Cash predicts second U.S. Open win for Hewitt

Former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash is confident Australia's Lleyton Hewitt will successfully defend his U.S. Open title at the tournament starting in New York this week.

"Unless he gets tired out mentally, I'd feel very confident in him getting his second U.S. Open in a row," Cash said in an interview aired on Australian television on Sunday.

Australia's Cash, the 1987 Wimbledon champion, said world number one Hewitt, 21, would be able to set aside his clash with the sport's governing body ATP.

Hewitt was fined half his $206,000 runners-up prize money in Cincinnati earlier this month for refusing to conduct an interview with host broadcasters ESPN before his first round match.

Hewitt was quoted in Australian newspapers as saying he has threatened to ignore ATP rules in future governing how many tournament a player is obliged to compete in.

He added that he would play where and when he wanted, and called men's tennis a badly-run "circus".

The world number one collected his second grand slam title with victory over Argentine David Nalbandian in the Wimbledon final in July.

"He's able to absorb that (ATP fine) and just move on," Cash said.

"He's just so tough to beat over five sets. The class isn't really there in the (U.S. Open) tournament.

"(Andre) Agassi and (Pete) Sampras have definitely gone over the hill.

"They are still certainly capable of playing great tennis, but to win another grand slam, I'm just not too sure."