Hewitt, Stosur to miss Commonwealth Games

Australia will be without its top players -- Lleyton Hewitt and Samantha Stosur -- when tennis makes its Commonwealth Games debut in India, officials said Wednesday.

Instead Davis Cup regular Peter Luczak and Anastasia Rodionova, ranked 121 and 62 respectively, will headline Australia's campaign in New Delhi, Tennis Australia said.

Australian media reports suggest former world number one Hewitt and Stosur, who reached the French Open final this year, will be absent as their schedules clash with ranking events.

The October 3-14 games are being held at the same time as critical tour events in China and Japan, and officials said this was expected to weaken the field in New Delhi with some top players having to compete in these to maintain world rankings.

"We have a group of very passionate and committed athletes who will do us proud and we fully expect the competition for medals to be ferocious," Australian Commonwealth Games Association chief Perry Crosswhite said.

Luczak, who teams up with Matt Ebden, Greg Jones and Davis Cup doubles specialist Paul Hanley for the games is Australia's No. 2 player and helped the Davis Cup team into a World Group play-off against Belgium next month.

Russia-born Rodionova, who began representing Australia in 2008, won a crucial rubber in her Fed Cup debut earlier this year, helping Australia earn a place in the World Group for the first time in years.

"We have a balanced blend of experience, talent and youthful exuberance that will hold us in good shape against the other Commonwealth nations," coach Scott Draper said. "We will definitely be aiming for medals."

Sally Peers, Olivia Rogowska and Jessica Moore were also named on the women's team.

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