Lleyton Hewitt has revealed he underwent right hip surgery on Thursday and will be out until the spring.
Hewitt, who said the problem was a torn labrum as well as some ligament damage, had surgery on his left hip for similar reasons in 2008.
"It's been causing a few problems since the Hopman Cup at the start of the year. Wasn't an easy decision to make, but one that I felt was necessary right at the moment," Hewitt told reporters at the Australian Open. "The last one, my bone in my hip at some stage was going to cut the labrum anyway... where this was more a little unlucky where I landed in a position that actually sort of tore it."
The 28-year-old Australian said the setback had not prompted any thoughts of retirement. "That never went through my mind... otherwise I wouldn't have had the op straightaway," he said. "I've worked too hard to come back. I feel like I'm hitting the ball as well as I've nearly ever hit it."
But, he joked, "the only thought [was] I thought maybe if I retire now and come back in 12 weeks -- you know, Kim and Justine do that, then come back and win slams."
Hewitt's 'retirement' is expected to end sometime during the clay season.