Seven surgeons told Lleyton Hewitt his tennis career was finished if he had on operation on his troublesome toe but the gritty Australian is merrily defying them by battling on and making himself a force to be reckoned with once again.

Hewitt underwent a radical operation in February 2012 when he had bone cut from the big toe of his left foot and two screws and a metal plate permanently locked in.

It was a last ditch attempt to prolong his career but, at the age of 32, the former world number one is eyeing a solid run at Wimbledon, where he lifted the crown in 2002.