Davis Cup: Hewitt, Tomic to lead Australia

Lleyton Hewitt and Bernard Tomic will lead Australia in a Davis Cup Oceania zone playoff against China next month. The 30-year-old Hewitt is fresh from a surprising run to the fourth round of the Australian Open. He has played 31 Davis Cup matches for Australia and has a 37-11 record in singles. Australia coach Patrick Rafter said Thursday that Hewitt's toe began bothering him again at the Australian Open, but he thinks he will be well enough to play on grass courts at Geelong outside Melbourne from Feb. 10-12. The 19-year-old Tomic also reached the fourth round at Melbourne Park. The other members of the squad will be Matt Ebden and Chris Guccione. Australia has spent the past five years out of the elite World Group.