MELBOURNE, Australia -- Lleyton Hewitt's bout of chicken pox has drained his strength so much he may have to miss next month's first round Davis Cup tie between Australia and Argentina.

The world No. 1 said he was physically exhausted after his stunning first-round loss to Spain's Alberto Martin at the Australian Open and will be seeking medical advice on whether to keep playing or take a rest.

"I won't be picking up a racket for a while, there are issues I have to look into," Hewitt said.

Australia, Davis Cup finalists for the past three years, are scheduled to play Argentina in Buenos Aires from Feb. 8-10.

Hewitt has always maintained the Davis Cup is the pinnacle of men's tennis and his loss would be a bitter blow to the Australian team after Patrick Rafter's decision to take a year off.

Mark Philippoussis, the hero of Australia's 1999 final win over France, is the obvious choice to fill the void left by Rafter but the former U.S. Open finalist has only just returned to tennis after knee surgery.