Hewitt faced with Games schedule clash

IF Australia's No 1 tennis player Lleyton Hewitt skips this year's Commonwealth Games in Delhi, it is more likely to be because of a scheduling conflict than because of security fears, he said yesterday.

Hewitt said he had yet to consider whether Delhi would be a safe place for him to play in October.

"Right at the moment, I haven't given it any thought, to tell you the truth," he said.

"I didn't know tennis was in the Commonwealth Games until a month ago. But I have contractual commitments to play in Asia at that time. I think it coincides with the Tokyo tournament so it's a tough one."

Hewitt has been sensitive to security risks in the past, expressing concerns about the Davis Cup tie in Chennai last year that sparked the withdrawal of the Australian team.

He said he remained mindful of security issues but would not automatically rule out Delhi, based on his Davis Cup experience.