Hewitt eyes coach Roche

Roche, who also coached Pat Rafter for five years, had worked with Federer on a part-time basis from 2005 but is now expected to confirm his intentions to work with Hewitt as soon as his partnership with the Swiss is fully disintegrated.

Federer meanwhile is rumoured to be setting up a partnership with either Darren Cahill or Roger Rasheed - both of whom have worked with Australian Hewitt.

"If Tony Roche is available, we would be silly not to talk to him," Hewitt's manager David Drysdale said.

"I'm not sure what Rochie's frame of mind is at the moment, but I'd like to talk to him, without a doubt. He's worked previously with Lleyton in Davis Cup with great success."

Hewitt first approached Roche in 2002 after Rafter's retirement but the 61-year-old had just undergone surgery and was not in a position to help the then world number one .

Roche, who won the 1966 French Open as well as reaching five other grand slam finals, has previously helped Ivan Lendl (world number one and six majors), Rafter (world number one and two majors) and Chris Lewis (1983 Wimbledon finalist) to the best results of their careers.