PARIS(AP) Lleyton Hewitt criticized the International Tennis Federation on Sunday, saying it was a ``disgrace'' the way the sports body reacted to Australia's decision to skip a Davis Cup series last month in India for security reasons.
The Australians were fined $10,000 and lost the hosting rights of their next home match. But they weren't suspended for refusing to travel to India for the May 8-10 zonal series.
It's all a circus. The whole thing is a circus,'' Hewitt said after beating Ivo Karlovic in five sets in the first round of the French Open.The way the ITF went about it was a disgrace in the first place.''
Tennis Australia had appealed for a change of venue after the ITF said that the southern Indian city of Chennai was approved by security consultants. The appeal was rejected, but Hewitt said the Australian federation was right to play it safe.