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MELBOURNE?Two-time Grand Slam champion Lleyton Hewitt has called for change in the administration of Tennis Australia to arrest what he sees as a decline in the sport.
The former world number wrote on his website that Australian tennis was falling behind many nations and is losing out to other sports in the country.
"The current administration appear excellent at 'talking things up', wanting complete total control of tennis in Australia, but the loser at the moment is the game of tennis," Hewitt wrote.
"And that is what is continually being discussed within the tennis community."
Hewitt is supporting former Australian Open tournament director Paul McNamee's bid to become TA president later this month.
McNamee, a former Davis Cup star and champion doubles player, is challenging long-serving president Geoff Pollard at a TA board election to be held here on October 26.
Pollard said he had asked McNamee to hold off from contesting the TA presidency until 2010, after key projects, such as the latest Melbourne Park redevelopment, had been finalised and to aid a leadership transition.
"I just want to finish off the current very major project and allow the board and the state (federation) presidents to properly plan the transition - not have, let's call it, a 'wildcard election'," Pollard told the Melbourne Age newspaper.
Critics have pointed to just two players in the men's world top 100 rankings, Hewitt at 23 and Peter Luczak (64), and two in the women's top 100, Sam Stosur (14) and Jelena Dokic (69), as proof of Australia's decline as an international tennis power.
Australia is also out of the Davis Cup World Group and is attempting to get back into the elite level via the 2010 Oceania/Asia zonal playoffs.
Hewitt, claiming to speak on behalf of current and former stars, said tennis in Australia needs an immediate and substantial shake-up.
"Five years ago there was a change of personnel and many hoped things may get better, however, talking with other players, former players and many people who have been involved in tennis for a long time, it sounds like it is getting worse.
Hewitt said he supported McNamee's bid to become president of Tennis Australia.
"Paul is definitely passionate, energetic, has business nous, a known profile and will be strong where needed to question and oversee the administration of the game," Hewitt said.
"I wish I was a shareholder because I know who I would be voting for, but I?m not and I just hope that they don?t delay what is needed and make change happen now."
