Hewitt steps into enemy territory

BUENOS AIRES, Sep 19 (Reuters) Former world number one Lleyton Hewitt steps deep into enemy territory when he leads Australia into their potentially explosive Davis Cup semi-final away to Argentina this weekend.

Hewitt, with a string of angry confrontations with Argentine players behind him, is an unpopular figure in the South American country and will have two minders following his every move before and during the September 22-24 tie.

Australia will be attempting to avenge last year's 4-1 quarter-final home defeat against the same opponents, which has added further spice to the confrontation.

But Argentina, who will be backed by a fanatical 14,000 crowd at the Parque Roca arena and playing on their favoured clay surface, start as overwhelming favourites to reach their first final since 1981.

David Nalbandian, one of the Argentine players who has clashed with Hewitt in the past, has fuelled the rivalry by predicting a straightforward win.

''It's going to be easy, 4-1,'' he said.

''It's going to be even nicer that he (Hewitt) is playing, it will be a better spectacle, but the Australians have the same chances as before.'' RESPECTFUL CROWD Nalbandian denied that Australia would get a rough reception, however.

''Everyone knows about the Davis Cup and when we play away they make our lives impossible,'' he said.

''There is noise everywhere, insults and you have to put up with it. People here are much more respectful than abroad.'' Hewitt, who had been doubtful because of an injured knee, arrived in Buenos Aires on Sunday evening and was whisked to a waiting car without speaking to reporters.

The bad feeling began in last year's Australian Open when Argentina's Juan Ignacio Chela was fined for spitting in Hewitt's direction during a third round tie.

In the quarter-finals, Hewitt brushed shoulders at a change of ends with Nalbandian, the man he beat in the 2002 Wimbledon final, before winning a bad-tempered fifth set.

Then, Guillermo Coria and Hewitt traded allegations of bad sportsmanship when the countries met in the Davis Cup later the same year in Sydney.

Chela and Nalbandian have both been named in an Argentine team which is unchanged from the one which beat holders Croatia in their quarter-final in Zagreb.

Argentina, who have reached the semi-finals for the fourth time in five years since returning to the World Group in 2002, have not lost a home tie for eight years.

Jose Acasuso and Agustin Calleri complete the line-up.

Hewitt will be joined by Mark Philippoussis, who returns to the Australian team for the first time in two-and-a-half years, and doubles specialists Wayne Arthurs and Paul Hanley.

Philippousis and Hewitt have helped Australia win the trophy twice, in 1999 and 2003.

The winners of the Buenos Aires semi-final will meet either the US or Russia in the final in December.

REUTERS PM HS0914