Andy Murray will face Lleyton Hewitt in a Kooyong
exhibition after the Australian pulled out of this week's AAMI Classic.
Defending champion Hewitt was due to feature in the
eight-player main draw of the exhibition event bit will instead face British No
1 Murray in a one-off match at the same venue on Friday.
Hewitt won the Brisbane International in searing
temperatures and is opting to extend his recovery time ahead of the Australian
Open, which starts next week.
"It's obvious that this week is all about Australian
Open preparation and about getting in as a good nick as possible," Hewitt
said.
"For the last four days in Brisbane, I played some
tough matches in extreme heat.
Thrilled
"I have to do what's right for my body before the
biggest event in my country, I've always been looked after well here and I take
pride in having won this event twice."
He added of the clash with Murray: "I want help
support Australian tennis. I'm thrilled to get a practice match against another
top player."
Murray, meanwhile, is looking for more match practice
ahead of the opening grand slam of the year having only played in one ATP event
since last September.
The Wimbledon champion was dumped out in the second round
of the Qatar Open - his first tournament since back surgery - and will face
in-form Hewitt, who beat Roger Federer in the Brisbane final, as a final
tune-up for the Australian Open.
Culled from Skysports
