London  - Father-of-two Lleyton Hewitt has gone to ground in Europe as Tennis Australia and the ITF row over whether a May 8-10 Davis Cup Asian zonal tie should be staged in the Indian city of Chennai.

Last November, up to 150 people died when Islamic extremists attacked luxury hotels and government building in what turned into a firefight.

India says the metropolis is perfectly safe, and the ITF agrees after conducting a security probe. But Tennis Australia is appealing that decision, asking for the tie to be played at a neutral venue.

Hewitt, 57th, competed last week in Monte Carlo and is possibly waiting for a wildcard offer from Rome which starts next Monday.

The tie halfway around the world falls in the middle of the clay season, with the 28-year-old Aussie having won a title on the surface this month in Houston and increasingly confident of his French Open hopes on the dirt. (dpa)