Hip surgery ends Hewitt's year

SYDNEY, Aug. 20 (UPI) -- Australian Lleyton Hewitt has undergone hip surgery and will miss the U.S. Open, a grand slam tennis event he won in 2001.

Hewitt had a hip labral tear repair via arthoscopy. The surgery will keep Hewitt off the court for the rest of the year. The includes the year's fourth Grand Slam tournament -- the U.S. Open, which begins Monday in New York

"Surgery was always the last resort, but unfortunately that's what it came down to," Hewitt said on his Web site. "I am also shattered that I can't lead the Australian Davis Cup team in Chile in our bid to rejoin the World Group and hope that the boys can still come through with a great win."

Australia plays in the Davis Cup World Group playoff in September.

Hewitt, 27, is 20-11 this year after losing to eventual Gold Medal winner Rafael Nadal in the second round of the Olympics. He is ranked No. 55 in the world.