By Andrew Hamilton

Sportstoday

PERTH, Dec 29 AAP - Australia has assumed underdog status for the Hopman Cup with neither of its team of Richard Fromberg and Nicole Pratt ranked in the world's top 50.

Fromberg, the veteran Tasmanian, has joined Pratt in the teams event starting at Perth's Burswood Dome tomorrow after world No.11 Mark Philippoussis withdrew with a knee injury yesterday.

Tournament director Paul McNamee tried unsuccessfully to lure either of Australia's other two top 20 players, Lleyton Hewitt and Pat Rafter, to the tournament last won by Australia in 1999.

A relieved McNamee announced today that Fromberg would replace Philippoussis who underwent knee surgery in Melbourne yesterday.

World No.7 Hewitt, who was McNamee's first choice to replace Philippoussis, rejected the monetary offer made by McNamee and today accepted a wildcard entry into next week's AAPT Championship in Adelaide.

Rafter is still recuperating from a hectic 12 months that was capped off when he withdrew from his Davis Cup final singles rubber in Barcelona earlier this month with severe cramps.

Fromberg's name was thrown up by his manager Stephen Myers, who also represents Pratt.

"Richard was a curve ball. Stephen suggested Richard out of the blue last night," he said.

"It was a little bit of luck because he had forgotten enter the Adelaide tournament.

"He normally has entered that tournament and I just assumed he wasn't available."

McNamee admitted that he had chased hard after Hewitt, who was the first-choice Australian invited to the tournament ahead of Philippoussis.

"I did hold some hopes out for Lleyton given that he hadn't finally committed to the week," he said.

"But, ultimately, we couldn't come to terms.

"I offered the same terms that Mark was getting and they came back with a counter offer that the tournament couldn't afford."

McNamee predicted Fromberg, ranked 71 in the world, would make a good account of himself in Perth.

"Once I knew Richard was free, because he has had a very good year. He was my first pick because of his singles prowess," he said.

"He's a giant killer Richard. We've seen that at the Australian Open a couple of times.

Fromberg comes into the Hopman Cup fresh from a victory in last week's Aussie Assault tournament in Melbourne where he beat Wayne Arthurs.

"He's played enormously well for Australia. In Davis Cup his record is 10-4," he said.

"I think that record shows what he's like when he plays for Australia."

Fromberg's first round opponent is South Africa's Wayne Ferreira, who he knocked out of last year's US Open 7-6 in the fifth set.

AAP agh/djw