Former world number one Lleyton Hewitt is targeting a swift return to the top 10 after recovering from an injury that curtailed his progress throughout last year.

The former Wimbledon and US Open champion underwent surgery in September after playing most of the year with a hip injury, forcing him out of the top 50 for the first time in a decade.

Hewitt, 27, said his complete recovery might take six months but believes he is in good enough shape to challenge the top players and climb back up the rankings.

“Once I get back into that routine of being injury free and being able to compete against the best guys week in, week out, I don’t see there’s any reason why I can’t get back in the top 10,” Hewitt told reporters in Perth on Friday.

“I’m the ultimate competitor I think. I know I’ve done everything in my power to get back to 100 percent and I feel I’m still good enough to knock off anyone on any given day.

“Even (in 2008), in the slams, it’s taken the top four or five guys to beat me.”

Hewitt is 67th in the world and will represent Australia with Casey Dellacqua in the Hopman Cup mixed team event in Perth starting on Saturday. The hosts have been drawn with Germany, United States and Slovakia.