TENNIS: Lleyton Hewitt fought off a severe bout of fever yesterday to guide Australia to a dramatic Hopman Cup win over Argentina.

But there are fears that Hewitt may have chickenpox just two weeks before he is due to start the Australian Open as top seed.

Hewitt beat Mariano Zabaleta 6-3, 6-4 to level the score in the Group B match at 1-1. He then teamed up with Alicia Molik, who earlier slumped 7-6, 3-6, 6-4 to Paola Suarez, to win the decisive mixed doubles 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 (10-7).

Australia will progress to the final if they win today's match with Spain.

In Group A, qualifiers Italy upset the top-seeded US.

France's Mary Pierce shook off a back injury to play her first competitive match in seven months yesterday, beating Austria's Barbara Schett 6-4, 7-6 to move into the semi-finals of the Hong Kong Ladies Challenge.

HOPMAN CUP - Group A: Italy beat (1) United States 2-1 (Italian names first) - F Schiavone beat M Seles 6-4, 2-6, 6-4; D Sanguinetti beat J-M Gambill 7-6 (7-1) 6-3. Sanguinetti/Schiavone lost to Gambill/Seles 6-1, 6-3. Group B: (2) Australia bt Argentina 2-1 (Australian names first) - A Molik lost to P Suarez 6-7 (1-7), 6-3, 4-6. L Hewitt bt M Zabaleta 6-3, 6-4. Hewitt/Molik bt Zabaleta/Suarez 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 (10-7).