Grand slam ranks higher than Olympics for Hewitt

8220;Tennis should be in the Olympics,8221; Hewitt told a news conference, before noting the difference with some other sports where the Olympic marks the pinnacle of achievement.

8220;We have four major grand slams in a year 8212; for other athletes here it is almost do or die. We will give it all we have got but in two weeks time there is the US Open,8221; said the 27-year-old.

Hewitt8217;s team-mate Alicia Molik, a bronze medal winner in Athens who is taking part in her third games, disagreed. 8220;The medal was the biggest highlight of my career and I feel a bit of a veteran here. We play as individuals most of the year and so it is a huge highlight to be in a team and feel that team spirit,8221; she said.

Hewitt8217;s hip injury had made him doubtful for Beijing and he said that he had feared he would miss out. 8220;After Wimbledon, I didn8217;t give myself a lot of chance of playing here or at the US Open,8221; he said.

8220;I had a week and a half of hitting in Sydney and took it day to day 8211; I wasn8217;t going to commit until I was sure that it wouldn8217;t flare up,8221; added Hewitt, who is not among the 16 seeded players.

8220;Not being seeded, a lot depends on the draw. I consider myself one of the most dangerous floaters. If I get through one or two matches I will just get better,8221; he said.

Hewitt said surgery on his hip remained an option for some stage beyond the US Open, which starts on Aug. 25, but said no decision had been made.