Hewitt relishing Hopman challenge

Lleyton Hewitt tackles defending Hopman Cup champion Roger Federer in the mixed team event on Sunday with the world number one hoping the battle will help him get in shape for January's Australian Open.

Hewitt is teaming up with Alicia Molik to represent Australian in the mixed team tournament for the first time, having decided to miss his usual warm-up event in Adelaide.

"I could have lost in the first round at Adelaide and been short of match practice here. I know I will have at least three tough matches," the U.S. Open champion said courtside on Sunday after hitting with Belgium's Xavier Malisse.

Hewitt attracted a big crowd at the Burswood Dome for his practice session and after a 2001 which saw him win his first Grand Slam, win the Masters Cup and finish the year ranked world number one, the 20-year-old knows the pressure to perform will be cranked up this season.

"I suppose I have gone a bit more from being hunter to being the hunted...but, you know, people have been gunning for me the last couple of years anyway," he said.

"Either way, I'd rather be number one and hunted than not number one.

"The pressure doesn't bother me. My goal is to win Grand Slams, and I would love to do that at the Australian Open.

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"I haven't made it past the last 16 there but going there as number one seed this season is going to be great.

"Now that I know how to string together seven five-set matches to win a slam the confidence is there."

Hewitt is in Perth with new coach Jason Stoltenberg after splitting with Darren Cahill earlier this month.

"I'm still mates with Darren and Jason is a pretty similar sort of guy so I am confident it will go well," Hewitt said.

Australia are grouped with Spain, Argentina and Switzerland so as well as facing Federer, Hewitt is also guaranteed matches against baseliners Tommy Robredo and Mariano Zabaleta.

World number 13 Federer won the Hopman Cup last year with Martina Hingis, but this year teams up with Miroslava Vavrinec.

He is eagerly awaiting his chance to play the world number one.

"It's the toughest match of the tournament because he is number one and had such an unbelievable finish to the season," he said.

"But I had more holidays than him, more rest, more practice, so I guess my preparation is a little bit better than his.

"Maybe it would have been a bit better to start against a lower-ranked player but if I beat him it would be a great start to the season."