New team in tennis: Federer and Roche

MELBOURNE, Australia - Tony Roche knew that by becoming Roger Federer's coach he would have to spend time in places he didn't want to be - on long flights and in the media spotlight. But he took the job, and Federer is glad he did.

Federer, who won the Australian Open, Wimbledon and U.S. Open last year, hooked up with Roche for two weeks in late December. This was after Federer went a year without a coach.

"I was hoping that he would find time for me," Federer said on the eve of the Australian Open. "In the beginning, he didn't, which I was disappointed. And then he changed his mind, so I was very happy."

Roche, 59, coached former top-ranked players Ivan Lendl and Pat Rafter. A former Davis Cup player for Australia, Roche won the French Open, reached the Wimbledon and U.S. Open finals and won five Wimbledon doubles titles with John Newcombe.

Roche has turned down offers to coach other players because of his reluctance to travel. In Federer's case, he made an exception.

"It was more he just didn't want to travel much," Federer said. "In the beginning he felt maybe a little bit too much the pressure, I'm being No. 1, there was the media. I think he was just not sure if he should go through all that again."

Roche will do some limited travel with Federer. He was courtside Sunday at Melbourne Park and the two exchanged comments during Federer's practice.

Federer is coming off the best season by any man in 16 years. Trying to improve on that will be a tough assignment for Roche.

"I think the experts, and me and Tony, we all know it's not his mistake if my ranking drops," Federer said. "Eventually it will drop. I can't stay No. 1 for 50 years."

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HINGIS ON THE REBOUND: Martina Hingis plans to play in Thailand at the end of the month, her first tournament since 2002.

She will play in the Volvo Women's Open in Pattaya beginning Jan. 31 to raise money for several Thai charities that help women and children who have suffered from abuse, homelessness and illness.

She was 22 when she retired in 2002 after operations on both ankles. The five-time Grand Slam singles champion was the youngest player to reach No. 1 at age 16 years, 6 months. She won a combined 76 singles and doubles titles during her career.

Top-ranked Lindsay Davenport wasn't surprised about Hingis' latest plans.

"I was surprised that someone quit that young who still, I thought, could have made a better comeback from all her surgeries if she'd given it more time," Davenport said. "I told her that."

The WTA said Sunday that Hingis had so far entered only the Thailand event.

"It could be a case of her testing the waters," WTA spokesman Roger Gatchalian said. "She's serious though. It's not just a hit and giggle."

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MOVING ON: - Lleyton Hewitt has a new girlfriend - Australian actress Rebecca Cartwright - and they've been a steady item for about two months.

Cartwright was in the stands Saturday when Hewitt won the Sydney International a fourth time.

"It's the first time she's seen me win, so it's nice to not take too long to do it," said Hewitt, who acknowledged Cartwright during the trophy ceremony.

A year ago, Hewitt had just proposed to then girlfriend Kim Clijsters on a Sydney harbor cruise. The pair split up in October. Clijsters was a losing finalist at the Australian Open last year but is not playing this time because of a lingering wrist problem.

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SHOW ME THE MONEY: - When Jim Courier asked top-ranked Roger Federer about his chief threat at the Australian Open, the Swiss star responded with a stock answer: the next three men in the rankings - Lleyton Hewitt, Andy Roddick and Marat Safin - plus Andre Agassi.

Courier, a former No. 1 who has replaced John McEnroe as this year's color commentator for Australia's Seven Network, was having none of it.

He pressed Federer, who initially resisted. Courier then said if Federer gave him a straight answer, he would bid nearly $2,300 for a racket that is among three items Federer donated for an auction for tsunami relief efforts.

"Hewitt," Federer quickly answered with a grin.

Courier held true to his word. His offer was listed on the auction site later in the day.