TENNIS: Cash in fitness battle

Pat Cash, the former Wimbledon champion, attempts to pass another hurdle in his battle for fitness after a spate of injuries when he competes in a series of Australian tournaments during the next five weeks.

Cash, who missed most of the 1993 season with a knee injury, is returning to the circuit after undergoing surgery on his back in January.

The 29-year-old will partner Kristine Radford in the Australian team to contest the Hopman Cup mixed-team championship, which starts on Saturday.

"My only goal is to survive the Australian season without injury," said Cash, who has been granted a wild card entry into next month's Australian Open.

The Czech Republic team of Petr Korda and Jana Novotna are the top seeds .

Cash's only Grand Slam victory came in the 1987 Wimbledon final when he overwhelmed the Czechoslovakian Ivan Lendl in straight sets and celebrated by climbing into the stand to embrace his entourage.