Roche to coach Hewitt

Australia's Lleyton Hewitt has hired Roger Federer's former coach Tony Roche to try and help him get back to the top of world tennis.

Hewitt has been without a fulltime coach since Roger Rasheed quit the job shortly before the Australian Open in January but announced on Wednesday that Roche has agreed to take on the job.

"I'm really looking forward to renewing our partnership," Hewitt told a news conference in Sydney.

"We both know what we need to do to get to the top of the game again."

His compatriot Roche had coached world number one Federer on a part-time basis from 2005, but the pair parted ways just two weeks before this year's French Open.

Hewitt won the US Open in 2001 and Wimbledon the following season and was the youngest man in history to finish a year ranked number one in the world.

He held the top ranking for a total of 80 weeks from 2001 to 2003 but has not won a Grand Slam title since and has slipped to 21st in the world.

Hewitt, who has worked with Roche in the past in Australia's Davis Cup team, said he hopes the 62-year-old would be able to bring out the best in him.

"He's a very positive guy. He's obviously one of the best coaches in the world.

"Ever since I first started working with Rochey as a teenager that really set a good platform for me to become the best player in the world.

Roche, who also coached Ivan Lendl and Pat Rafter to the number one ranking, said he is confident he could help the combative Hewitt rediscover his best form.

"That's the goal. I think we've got to shoot for the top," Roche said.

"I wouldn't be doing this job if I didn't think Lleyton had a chance of winning a Grand Slam."