Copyright © 2015. No duplication is permitted without permission from Bob Larson Tennis.

After giving up his ATP season due to a thigh strain from Davis Cup, Lleyton Hewitt is turning all of his attention to securing the Davis captaincy early next year after his intended retirement in January. Australian media report that the 34-year-old is prepared to fly from his home in the Bahamas to Australia if his presence is required as part of the application process.

The appointment of Hewitt as Davis skipper after one-year of temporary captain Wally Masur had looked a few months ago to be a done deal. But Tennis Australia had second thoughts about how it might look to simply hand over the job to the enthusiastic and longtime Davis supporter Hewitt.

To make it all look legal, an application process was hastily put into place. Hewitt has continually voiced his desire to take over the Davis reigns after supporting Australia in the competition for more than a decade and a half.

Applications for the captain’s job are reportedly being taken until Sunday, with Hewitt still the overwhelming favorite to get the gig. The Aussie will start 2016 at the Hopman Cup in Perth and then retire when his run at the Australian Open is over next January.

Hewitt’s manager David Drysdale, told Fairfax media of his client’s plans, with Hewitt due to get back to training in November.

“With the thigh strain he needed rest, so we’ve made sure he’s having that rest now so that he can be fit for January, for the final hurrah. He’s looking forward to it.” Hewit is due to be honored next month at the ATP World Tour Finals in London.

Hewitt is considered a near-cert for the Davis job after main rivals Pat Cash, Paul McNamee and Masur himself all indicating they would be unlikely to apply.

Copyright © 2015. No duplication is permitted without permission from Bob Larson Tennis.