Maradona pokes fun at Hewitt

Diego Maradona provided a show apart at Argentina's Davis Cup semi-final against Australia on Friday as he jumped up and down in the stands like a football fan and poked fun at Lleyton Hewitt in a television interview.

Maradona, watching from the VIP box wearing dark glasses and garbed in an Argentina shirt, leaped around waving a shirt above his head every time the hosts won an important point.

During a television interview, he mocked Hewitt's security arrangements and told him that Argentina was a civilised country.

Tennis Australia have taken special measures to protect Hewitt, who has been involved in acrimonious disputes with several Argentine players.

"What I have to say to Hewitt is that we are a civilised country," Maradona said.

"He didn't know Argentina and I think he's surprised. He thought that here we live with bows and arrows. Now he's realised that all we want is to win at tennis and nothing more.

"We have to ruin him, we have to bring him to justice on the court."

Argentina's players were delighted to have the outspoken former national captain supporting them.

"It's a privilege to have him here," said Argentina's number one player David Nalbandian. "It's a dream for us.

"When we were young, we used to watch him and admire him. Now, he's in the stands supporting us."