Hewitt expected to be fit for Open

World number one Lleyton Hewitt will be fit and ready for the Australian Open despite having been sidelined by chicken pox just days before the first grand slam of the year, his manager said on Friday.

The 20-year-old tested positive for the virus on Thursday, forcing him out of the Hopman Cup, but it could turn out to be a "blessing in disguise", John McCurdy said.

Hewitt has been resting in his hotel room at the Burswood Resort in Western Australia after contracting the virus.

He is due to be top seed at Melbourne Park from January 14-27 and is looking to become the first Australian man to win his home grand slam since Mark Edmonson in 1976.

Hewitt has been told to rest for at least five days before resuming training which could leave him woefully short of match practice before the Open.

However McCurdy said he was confident his man would be ready.

"Obviously getting a positive test yesterday meant that he couldn't go on in the Hopman Cup, but his whole focus is the Open," McCurdy said at the Burswood Dome where he watched Hewitt's girlfriend Kim Clijsters represent Belgium in the mixed team event.

"They'll adopt a positive attitude him and Stolts (coach Jason Stoltenberg) as to make this work for them and turn his into a positive situation."

Medical experts have warned that to train too vigorously or return to training too soon could leave Hewitt susceptible to chronic fatigue and further illness.

"They are not going to do anything silly… they will follow medical advice," McCurdy said.

"He's got a bit of time before the Open. He had such a full year last year.

"He played late into the year, finished late, he had a hell of a lot of tough matches.

"He can draw on that and with some time off at this stage it won't hurt - maybe it's a blessing in disguise.

"When other guys were having time off he was playing in the Masters Cup and the Davis Cup final, maybe he can draw on those tough matches.

"It is up to him and Stolts to sit down and work something out.

"The main thing is his health and the Open. It is up to them to rearrange their preparation.

"I'm fully confident he will play the Open - it will be right by then."