Hewitt, a former world number and enjoying a 2004 career renaissance, has his sights set on finishing the year as world number two, tucked just in the slipstream of Roger Federer.

But the 23-year-old knows he faces a media storm as he plays his first tournament since the highly-publicized collapse of his relationship with Kim Clijsters.

Hewitt, beaten in the US Open final by Federer this year, has not commented on the break-up and, with a long-standing love-hate relationship with the press, will not be relishing an inquisition here.

Newspaper reports said Hewitt was "completely floored" when Clijsters told him their relationship was off especially after they had planned a wedding in February.

"He's angry, embarrassed, devastated, distraught," said a friend at the time.

"He's been kicked in the guts and he's been kicked in the guts internationally and embarrassingly."

Not surprisingly, the brash Australian prefers to concentrate on his game and his chances of ousting America's Andy Roddick from the world number two spot this week.

"I'm playing extremely well," said Hewitt whose titles this year in Rotterdam, Washington, Long Island and Sydney have taken his career total to 23.

"Since the US Open last year, I haven't put too many feet wrong. Right through this whole year, it has taken a hell of a player to beat me week in and week out.

"The three majors that Roger won, I lost to him in all three and I lost to Gaston Gaudio in the quarters of the French Open and he went on to win it.

"I'm back at No.3 in the world now and got a chance to try and finish number two."

Hewitt is seeded two at the 2.45-million-euro Paris Masters behind Roddick who is seeded one in the absence of Federer who has failed to recover from a thigh injury.

The Swiss star's place in the season-ending Masters Cup was already assured while Roddick, Hewitt, Spain's Carlos Moya and French Open champion Gaudio are also guaranteed places in the eight-man field.

That leaves Andre Agassi, Tim Henman, Marat Safin and David Nalbandian to battle for the remaining places for the November 15-21, 3.7-million-dollar event in Houston.

The shake-up will be decided in Paris where Henman is the defending champion but the Briton's rivals are all in good shape.

Safin, the winner in Paris in 2000 and 2002, picked up the Madrid Masters crown two weeks ago while Agassi and Nalbandian both reached their respective finals in Stockholm and Basel this weekend.

The battle for the places in the Houston event could be eased somewhat if Guillermo Coria, who has already booked a place, misses out with the Argentine not having played since July because of a shoulder injury.