Hewitt has chicken pox, pulls out of Hopman Cup

World number one Lleyton Hewitt has been sidelined by chicken pox just 11 days before the start of the Australian Open.

The 20-year-old has withdrawn from the Hopman Cup in Perth after extensive tests revealed he has the virus, officials said on Thursday.

Hewitt is due to be the top seed at the first Grand Slam tournament of the year at Melbourne Park from January 14-27.

Hewitt's girlfriend women's world number five Kim Clijsters does not have the disease, having already suffered from it as a child, officials said.

Hewitt was seen by Hopman Cup tournament doctor Peter Steele and infectious diseases specialist Miles Beamon on Wednesday.

Early test results released on Thursday morning suggested he did not have chicken pox but later results proved positive.

"Lleyton is suffering the effects of a viral infection and needs to rest up for a few days," Dr Steele said.

Dr Steele is confident Hewitt will be able to take part in Melbourne, but the enforced rest period could play havoc with his Open preparation.

FEELING UNWELL

Hewitt suffered from fever on Tuesday night and woke up with spots the next morning. He later said that he had been feeling unwell for the last few days.

His manager John McCurdy initially said he hoped Hewitt had caught a 24-hour virus circulating in Perth rather than chicken pox.

Despite the illness, Hewitt played in Australia's Hopman Cup victory over Argentina at the Burswood Dome on Wednesday, beating Mariano Zabaleta in the singles and teaming up with Alicia Molik to win the decisive mixed doubles.

But his withdrawal means Spain will automatically go into Saturday's final of the mixed team event, eliminating the hosts.

"It is very disappointing for the tournament and very disappointing for Lleyton who was so gallant in playing when he first got the symptoms," tournament director Paul McNamee said.

CHICKEN NOISES

But he added that the player had taken the news well. "Everyone started making chicken noises in the room so I thought that it must be good news ? but actually that's how he took the news.

"We don't know how he got it... that is something his parents are looking into now.

"He has just accepted it. He's in quite good spirits. He has still very much got his eyes on the Australian Open as something he wants to win."

Doctors in Perth have told him to rest for four or five days before resuming training.

"It is not a perfect preparation but there's nothing you can do about that," McNamee said.

"Doctors are very confident that he will be able to play (in the Australian Open) because of how he is feeling and the symptoms he has got.

"He'll be practising again after four or five days' rest. He is taking medication which blocks the symptoms and he has started it early," he said, adding that the medication was not on the sport's banned list.