from Australian Associated Press

SYDNEY. World No. 1 aspirant Lleyton Hewitt yesterday defended himself after his late withdrawal from the Stockholm Open angered organizers, including tennis great Stefan Edberg.

US Open champion Hewitt faces a fine of up to $100,000 from the ATP Tour after pulling out a day after the tournament started, citing a back problem.

The 20-year-old Australian was top seed for the event and had requested last week that his first round match be delayed until today.

However, his coach Darren Cahill rang and told organisers he would not be playing just 10 minutes before they were to send a private jet to collect him from Luxembourg.

translated into English by Mauro Cappiello

These two have fought, but never denigrated. Not a word higher than the others, no adverse feeling confessed, respect above all, at the point that it was uncommon with them that a handshake was not accompanied by a warm embrace. Yes, nothing more than a simple rivalry opposed Boris Becker and Stefan Edberg and it was never better exposed than on the Wimbledon Centre Court where the two men fought for three consecutive years in the final from 1988 to 1990.

Strangely, no other Grand Slam final at the Australian Open, Roland Garros and the US Open, will put them against each other. At the end of the three finals played at the All England Club, Edberg was the one who came out on top with two wins against one from Becker.