MELBOURNE, Jan 23: Lleyton Hewitt will lead the Australian team in next month’s Davis Cup Asia/Oceania first round tennis tie against Taiwan in Kaohsiung, Tennis Australia said on Wednesday.

The world number 22 heads a squad including Chris Guccione (91), Alun Jones (137), doubles specialist Paul Hanley (10 in doubles) and Joseph Sirianni (146).

The tie will be played on hardcourt from Feb 8 to 10.

“Lleyton has played some sensational tennis at the Australian Open,” team captain John Fitzgerald said.

Hewitt refused to blame his controversial early hours finish to Marcos Baghdatis for his failure to get past Novak Djokovic in the fourth round of the Grand Slam tournament last Monday.—AFP