BEIJING, August 6, 2008 (AFP) - Lleyton Hewitt admitted on Wednesday that his long-standing hip injury could spark an Olympic Games dream performance which had seemed unlikely just four weeks ago.

The 27-year-old Australian, who has played only three tournaments in four months, will be unseeded at the Games tennis tournament but he believes his low profile build-up could work in his favour.

'I could draw anyone and I'll be a dangerous floater,' said the former world number one who is playing the Olympics for the first time since Sydney in 2000.

'If I can get through one or two matches, then I'll get better.'

Hewitt hasn't featured on the tour since losing to Roger Federer in the fourth round at Wimbledon, but he showed trademark tenacity in the face of crippling pain by taking Spanish world number five David Ferrer to five sets at the French Open.

After Wimbledon, Hewitt admitted he may have had to shelve the Olympics and the US Open in order to undergo surgery on his hip.

But after training with coach Tony Roche in Australia, he is now ready for action in the heat, humidity and smog of Beijing.

'After Wimbledon, I didn't give myself much of a chance of playing either here or at the US Open,' said Hewitt.

'But I had some tests and they have paid dividends. I hit last week with Tony. I took it day by day and didn't want to commit myself. But I felt good last week.'

Hewitt, who was a first round loser in Sydney and then skipped the 2004 Athens Games because the tournament schedule was too close to the US Open, said his plans for the rest of the year are still in doubt.

'It's all up in the air. I'd love to play the Davis Cup match in Chile but playing on clay is different to a hard court. Surgery is still an option,' said Hewitt who'll also team up with Chris Guccione in the doubles here.

The Australian insisted that the infamous pollution of Beijing won't be a problem for him.

'I had a hit out there today. The smog didn't worry me. I think the heat and humidity will cause more of a problem but I like to play in these conditions.

'I'm not worried about the courts here, they are very similar to New York. The balls are a bit quicker through the air.'

Meanwhile, both Hewitt and compatriot Alicia Molik, who was a bronze medallist in Athens in 2004, hit back at South African golfer Trevor Immelman's claims that tennis, along with golf and basketball, should be axed from the Olympics.

'Winning a bronze in Athens was one of my biggest career highlights,' said the 26-year-old Molik who comes into the Games nursing an elbow injury.

'I believe tennis should remain in the Olympics forever.'

Hewitt, too, wants to see the sport retained.

'Tennis should be in the Olympics, but we do have four major Grand Slam tournaments outside of it,' said the former Wimbledon and US Open winner.

'We are fortunate because of that while for other athletes here, these two weeks are do-or-die.'