Code of conduct escape for Hewitt

U.S. Open officials said on Saturday that Lleyton Hewitt committed no violation of their code of conduct in an incident the night before in which he had been accused of racism.

"After interviews with both players, the linesman in question, and the chair umpire, and reviewing videotape of the incident, it was determined that there was no violation of the Grand Slam Code of Conduct committed by Lleyton Hewitt," Grand Slam referee Brian Earley said in a statement.

The 20-year-old Australian maintained he said nothing racial when he demanded that a linesman be moved after calling two foot-faults on him during his match against James Blake.

The linesman, Marion Johnson, and Blake are both African American, so when Hewitt said to the umpire "you tell me what the similarity is", it was presumed by many that he was referring to their race.

New York City newspaper headlines castigated him for alleged racism.

Accompanying the statement from Earley was a transcript of Hewitt's comments, which were picked up by television cameras.

"Change him. Change him. I have only been foot-faulted at one end," Hewitt was quoted as saying.

"Look at him. Look at him and you tell me what the similarity is. Just get him off the court. Look at what he's done."

Referee Earley's statement said: "The evidence was inconclusive as to the intent of Mr Hewitt's remarks to the chair umpire."

FACE-TO-FACE

In a news conference, Earley said he had a face-to-face interview with Hewitt lasting five to 10 minutes.

He said Hewitt told him that "he couldn't understand why the chair umpire didn't see that this was the same line umpire who had made the exact mistake, in Lleyton's words, twice, in very short order".

The referee said it was a "fair statement" that while he could not conclude Hewitt meant to make a racial reference, he also could not conclude that he did not mean to do so.

Earley said Hewitt made no gesture in Blake's direction nor did he refer to him by name or in any other way.

The referee added that Blake had not heard Hewitt's remarks, Johnson had not picked up any racial overtones and the Australian had expressed regret and embarrassment that his comments were misconstrued.

"More than I can tell you," Earley said. "Contrite is a word I would use, except that he didn't feel like he had to apologise for what he meant.

"He felt he had to apologise for the way it was taken."

In a brief written statement, Hewitt made no mention of the decision and no claim of exoneration, stating only: "I have spoken with James Blake and we discussed the situation.

"I apologised for unintentionally causing an incident yesterday, which detracted from a hard-fought match and James's outstanding performance."

Fourth seed Hewitt was being severely tested by Blake when the incident occurred in the third set but eventually won 6-4 3-6 2-6 6-3 6-0 after his opponent was worn down, vomiting at one point from the heat and exhaustion.