Hewitt slams ITF for fining Australia

PARIS - Former World No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt, after battling into the second round of the French Open Sunday, slammed the $10,000 fine tennis’ governing body had levelled on Australia for failing to play a Davis Cup tie in India.

“The whole thing is a circus,” said Hewitt. “The way the ITF (International Tennis Federation) went about it was a disgrace in the first place.

“Australia is pretty disappointed about the way they’ve gone about it. The way the ITF went about this was very ordinary.”

Citing security concerns, Australia refused to travel to Chennai for the third round Davis Cup tie May 8-10.

The ITF awarded the tie to India. Australia could have faced suspension from the competition for a year in the most serious scenario.