PERTH, Australia, Jan 3 - World number one Lleyton Hewitt’s Australian Open dreams were dealt a hammer blow on Thursday when tests revealed he has contracted chicken pox just 11 days before the start of the first grand slam of the year.

The 20-year-old was forced to withdraw from the Hopman Cup in Perth after extensive tests revealed he has the virus, tournament officials said.

Hewitt 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.

Chicken pox is an infectious disease but officials said Hewitt’s girlfriend and women’s world number five Kim Clijsters had not contracted the virus because she had suffered from it as a child.

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

Australian men’s hardcourt results

Second round

4-Hicham Arazi (Morocco) beat Paul-Henri Mathieu (France) 6-4 0-6 6-2; Mark Philippoussis (Australia) beat 5-Sjeng Schalken (Netherlands) 6-0 6-3; 8-Ivan Ljubicic (Croatia) beat Nicolas Massu (Chile) 7-6 (7-5); 7-5; Todd Martin (U.S.) beat Michael Llodra (France) 7-5 6-4.

Indian Open results:

MADRAS: 1-Guillermo Canas (Argentina) beat Ivo Karlovic (Croatia) 7-5 6-2; Jiri Vanek (Czech Republic) beat Noam Okun (Israel) 3-6 7-6 (7-5) 6-4.