PERTH (Australia), Jan 2 - World number one Lleyton Hewitt fought off a severe bout of fever Wednesday to guide Australia to a dramatic Hopman Cup victory over Argentina.

The player’s manager later said there were fears Hewitt may have chicken pox just two weeks before he is due to start the Australian Open as top seed.

Hewitt was to have medical tests later on Wednesday to determine the cause of the fever.

In late action at the Burswood Dome, qualifiers Italy upset the top-seeded United States.

Francesca Schiavone beat Monica Seles and Davide Sanguinetti beat Jan-Michael Gambill in one of the biggest shocks in the 14-year-history of the mixed team event.

But the Italians’ heroics were overshadowed by concerns that Hewitt’s chances at the first Grand Slam of the year could be seriously hampered by the illness.

Hewitt, who saw a doctor before his match, drove himself on to tear past Mariano Zabaleta 6-3 6-4 in the second singles contest on Wednesday and level the score in the Group B match at 1-1.

He then teamed up with Alicia Molik, who earlier slumped 7-6 3-6 6-4 to Paola Suarez at the Burswood Dome, to win the decisive mixed doubles 5-7 6-3 7-6 (10-7) in a super-tiebreak climax.

He left the Western Australian complex immediately after the match for “precautionary tests”, according to tournament director Paul McNamee.

Results

Group A

Italy take winning 2-0 lead over 1-U.S. (Italian names first) Davide Sanguinetti beat Jan-Michael Gambill 7-6 (7-1) 6-3 Francesca Schiavone beat Monica Seles 6-4 2-6 6-4

Group B

Argentina beaten 2-1 by 2-Australia (Argentine names first) Zabaleta/Suarez lost to Hewitt/Molik 5-7 6-3 7-6 (10-7) Mariano Zabaleta lost to Lleyton Hewitt 6-3 6-4 Paola Suarez beat Alicia Molik 7-6 (7-1) 3-6 6-4—Reuters