Pat Rafter, Mark Woodforde and Sandon Stolle have all got in on the act, although teenager Lleyton Hewitt has not joined in the light-hearted prank.

His excuse, though, is not a bare-faced lie.

"You all know the reason why," said Hewitt. "Basically, I can't.

"It's not that I got no respect for Newk, that definitely not the reason."

Hewitt enjoyed the upper hand twice eaarly in the season, including a 6-0 6-0 6-1 victory in the Australian Open.

'I don't care'

Corretja got his own back last week with a three-set victory in the Masters Cup, after which he criticised Hewitt's on-court behaviour.

The pair then didn't speak after meeting at a practice session and Hewitt fuelled the situation by saying: "I can't remember seeing him. I don't know what his problem is.

"I haven't seen anything Corretja said. I haven't read anything about it. So I really couldn't care less.

Pat Rafter hopes to end what has been a mixed season by putting the traumas of shoulder surgery behind him.

Privilege

"I've had some very big highs and some pretty ordinary performances as well. But if I could finish on a high note, I think I'd put it down as one of my great years," he said.

Mark Woodforde, who will retire after the Davis Cup also wants to end the year on a high.

"I just think it's a real privilege to play my last match - not for me - but for the team and Australia.

"It's a great way to end my tennis days."