Lleyton Hewitt has warned Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal that he is still capable of beating the world's best players.

Hewitt, 27, has never been short of confidence but even the Australian's self-belief could have taken a battering during a barren two-year run without a singles title.

The glory days of his reign as Wimbledon champion and world number one back in 2002 seem a long way off. In the intervening six years Federer and Nadal have established a duopoly at the top of the game that only Novak Djokovic looks capable of breaking.

Djokovic underlined his credentials by winning the Australian Open this year, beating Hewitt en route in the last 16.

Adelaide-based Hewitt has slipped to 30th in the world rankings due to a combination of injury and poor form. Yet he is convinced he can still cut it at the top.

"I feel like I'm definitely capable of playing against those big guys. I know what it takes to win seven matches there," he said. I feel over five sets that's where the best of me comes, in the Grand Slams.

"That's what I play for. My best tennis always comes out in those situations over five sets. I'll go in there quietly confident.

"I think I've done it enough times against the best players in the world. Last year I was one point away from beating Nadal on clay and one point away from beating Djokovic at Wimbledon and a couple points away of beating Federer at Cincinnati on hard courts.

"When I put it all together, I'm not too far away but I've got to get my body right first. That would make life a lot easier."

Hewitt's struggles with a hip injury have been a major concern in recent months, fuelling his frustration at every defeat.

"It's probably more so a couple of my losses this year have been sort of through playing injured, not being a hundred percent out there," he said.

"That's probably more disheartening in a lot of ways because I felt like I've been hitting the ball extremely well, but haven't been a hundred percent out there to be able to compete. For me competing is one of my biggest assets."

But back on his favourite grass courts at Queen's Club this week Hewitt is showing signs of rediscovering his best form.

Josh Goodall, Xavier Malisse and Paul-Henri Mathieu have all been brushed aside and he remains on course for a record fifth title.

If he doesn't prosper in England this year, Hewitt already knows who he wants to end the grass-court campaign on a high.

"Personally I'd hope it's Nadal's time because he's a great guy. What he's done, how he plays on all surfaces, he deserves to be world number one," Hewitt added. "There's no doubt that his name should be up there with the greats of the game."

AFP