Hewitt rages over £70,000 fine

Lleyton Hewitt has launched an attack on the ATP's organisation of the men's tour and threatened to drastically cut down his playing schedule for next season.

The Australian world No.1 and holder of both U.S. Open and Wimbledon titles was furious at being fined almost £70,000 by the ATP for not doing a TV interview at the Masters Series event in Cincinnati. That, seemingly, was the spur for an outburst from Hewitt, who said his enjoyment of tennis is being ruined by ATP officials. 'Next year I couldn't give two hoots about No.1,' he told Australia's Sunday Telegraph newspaper. 'There are times when you feel like (walking away) and pulling on the boots and playing footy. 'It's a great sport - if the ATP would just get out of the way. When things happen like in Cincinnati, when you think about the way everything has been run, it's just not much fun.' Hewitt, beaten by Britain's Greg Rusedski on Friday in the quarter-finals of ATP tournament in Indianapolis, criticised the Tour over a TV deal, the players' retirement funds and prize-money. He also said he wished he could spend more time at home watching Aussie Rules team Adelaide Crows. 'It's lucky the ITF (International Tennis Federation) runs the grand slams, not the ATP,' he added. 'Next year I'm going to try to peak for the majors, not go around to chase so many smaller tournaments and put up with some of the ATP requirements.'