SYDNEY, August 20, 2008 (AFP) - Former Australian world number one Lleyton Hewitt said Wednesday he would miss the US Open and the rest of the season after undergoing arthroscopic hip surgery.

But the 27-year-old two-time Grand Slam champion, who will also miss next month's Davis Cup playoff tie against Chile, dismissed any talk of retirement, saying he would be back on court in January.

'Surgery was always the last resort, but unfortunately that?s what it came down to,' Hewitt said in a statement on his website.

'I am looking forward to playing again in January in my home country, and using that as a springboard to compete at my best again on the world stage for at least a couple of more years.'

Hewitt, currently ranked 55th in the world, has struggled through much of 2008 with his hip.

He is now scheduled to start the 2009 season at the mixed teams Hopman Cup in Perth.

Hewitt said he was 'shattered' about being unable to 'lead the Australian Davis Cup team in Chile in our bid to rejoin the world group, and hope that the boys can still come through with a great win.'

Australia, which has won the Davis Cup 28 times, plays Chile in Santiago from September 19-21. The loss of Hewitt -- the country's most successful Davis Cup singles player -- is a big blow to Australia's hopes.

With only one other male player inside the top 100, Chris Guccione, the Australians face a big task on South American clay against a Chilean team led by Olympic silver medallist Fernando Gonzalez.