Miami, FL, USA, 24 March 2015 | tennis.com.au

Aussie veteran Lleyton Hewitt is one of five Aussie men entered in the main draw of the Miami Open, beginning this week at Crandon Park in Florida.

Hewitt, 34, had intended to play a significantly reduced schedule in 2015, and was originally not expected to compete until the grasscourt season in June.

Former player Jaymon Crabb, a member of Hewitt’s entourage, first hinted on Twitter a few days ago that the South Australian would contest the prestigious two-week ATP-WTA event.

“@lleytonhewitt the list has dropped for Miami. Let’s pack the bags and have one last crack. @MiamiOpenTennis needs to see you one more time,” he wrote.

To which Hewitt responded: “Yep @CrabbJaymon let’s have 1 more crack @MiamiOpenTennis Looking forward to it! See ya soon boys.”

The Aussie will first face Brazil’s Thomaz Bellucci, with the winner to then tackle 19th seed Pablo Cuevas of Uruguay. They are in the eighth of draw headed by No.1 seed and defending champion Novak Djokovic.

Hewitt joins compatriots Bernard Tomic, Sam Groth, Marinko Matosevic and Thanasi Kokkinakis in the main draw, with James Duckworth and Omar Jasika hoping to bolster the Aussie contingent via qualifying.

> READ MORE: Jasika wins first up in Miami qualifying

Tomic, the 29th seed, has been afforded a first-round bye, and will face the winner of the match between Denis Istomin and qualifier.

Tomic is projected to meet No.8 seed Tomas Berdych in round three.

Elsewhere in the draw, Sam Groth faces a qualifier, wildcard Kokkinakis takes on Argentine Carlos Berlocq – with a second-round match looming against seventh seed Stan Wawrinka – while Matosevic will tackle Finn Jarkko Nieminen.

> view the ATP Miami Open main draw

In the women’s event, Australia has two seeded contenders in Sam Stosur and Casey Dellacqua, each who receive a bye through to round two.

Both reached the third round in 2014 and this year their draws afford them a similar opportunity.

Stosur, the 23rd seed, takes on the winner of the match between Dutchwoman Kiki Bertens and a qualifier, with a potential crack at 16th seed Venus Williams in the last 32.

They’re in the section of the draw headed by No.4 seed Caroline Wozniacki.

Dellacqua, the No.32 seed, takes on the winner of a tough match between former world No.5 Daniela Hantuchova and rising star Belinda Bencic.

Should she win that, a likely date with sixth seed Eugenie Bouchard awaits in the third round.

Other Aussies in the draw are Ajla Tomljanovic and Daria Gavrilova; Tomljanovic faces Japan’s Kurumi Nara first up, while Gavrilova battles a qualifier.

Both are in the eighth of the draw containing second seed Maria Sharapova.

> view the WTA Miami Open main draw