Tennis champ Lleyton Hewitt has discovered the best way to mend a broken heart is to get back into the game before you risk losing form.
So Hewitt, 23, was saving some of his best footwork for a private singles match last week on board a luxury cruiser with television actor Bec Cartwright.
As one of a star-studded list of celebs enjoying a very Sydney Christmas, the tennis player paid $5000 to hire the Sunseeker 65-foot cruiser on Tuesday night and entertained a party of one, Home And Away star Cartwright, 21, for a dinner cruise on the harbour.
It was after a similar cruise last December that Hewitt proposed to Belgian tennis ace Kim Clijsters. Their relationship hit the rocks in October.
During their four-hour twilight cruise, Hewitt and Cartwright dined on lobster, crab, chicken and champagne.
Hewitt takes teen under his wing
By John Thirsk
December 19, 2004
LLEYTON HEWITT has taken one of Australia's brightest young tennis talents under
his wing as the former world No.1 builds up for a busy summer of tennis.
Hewitt, 23, is playing big brother to Sydney teenager Steven Goh in his
preparation for the Next Generation Hardcourt in Adelaide (January 3-9),
Medibank International in Sydney (January 9-15) and Australian Open in Melbourne
(January 17-30).
Channel 7 commentator and former Davis Cup player John Alexander told The Sunday
Telegraph he watched Hewitt practice with the 16-year-old at White City under
the watchful eye of coach Roger Rasheed and Davis Cup coach Wally Masur.
"Lleyton practising with Steven Goh reminds me of when Lleyton was a 16-year-old
and Patrick Rafter took the youngster [Hewitt] under his wing with Newk [captain
John Newcombe] and Rochey [coach Tony Roche] at Davis Cup time," Alexander said.
"It was pretty intense stuff between the master and pupil.
"Lleyton was fantastic with Steven, in the same way Patrick treated him (Hewitt)
when he first came on the scene.
"It was interesting to watch the 'Big Brother' coming out in Lleyton in the way
he encouraged Stephen.
"It was real 'family of mates' stuff where they would practice, go to the gym,
and have lunch together."
In a stellar year, Hewitt has risen from 17 to three in the world rankings,
winning four of seven finals.
It was no disgrace to lose to the indestructible Roger Federer in the Australian
Open (fourth round), Wimbledon (quarter-final) and US Open (final), as well as
the season-ending Masters Cup final.
Alexander said he had noticed a new look and maturity about Hewitt following his
split with fiancee Kim Clijsters two months ago.
"Lleyton had a real strong look about him," Alexander said. "He has an air of
confidence.
"When you look at his year, it's nothing to be ashamed of losing three of the
four grand slams to Federer.
"It's going to be interesting to see if Federer can come back and have a better
2005.
"Jimmy Connors [1974] and Mats Wilander [1988], like Federer [2004], won three
of the four grand slams. But they [Connors and Wilander] could not back it up
the next year.
"Lleyton is an intelligent player and he will work out the game plan he needs to
beat Federer.
"Lleyton has gone through the life cycle of being the world No1 in consecutive
years [2001-02], lost the mantle and is back close to it."
Alexander said the pressure on Hewitt to win the Australian Open at Melbourne
Park - he has never been passed the fourth round - is different to that of
Englishman Tim Henman at Wimbledon.
"There hasn't been a Brit to win Wimbledon since Fred Perry in 1936, so Henman
feels the weight of an entire nation on his shoulders every time," Alexander
said.
"Patrick Rafter suffered similar expectations, but Lleyton is a different
personality.
"Lleyton handles pressure well and has the ability to keep his private life to
himself, which allows him to concentrate on tennis. He enjoys the fans' support
and in return appreciates that support.
"You can see that every time he represents in Davis Cup and now supporting
teenagers like Steven Goh."
The Sunday Telegraph
Hewitt puts in the hard yards
Leo Schlink
11dec04
LLEYTON Hewitt has embarked on the most comprehensive pre-season preparation of
his career ahead of his centenary Australian Open tilt.
The world No. 3 has spent the past four days in Sydney, where he has worked with
coach Roger Rasheed to build peak fitness for the Australian summer circuit.
Packing six more kilograms on his slender frame, Hewitt has laid the fitness
foundation for the Next Generation Hardcourts (January 3-9), the Sydney
International (January 9-15) and the Australian Open (January 17-30).
He has swum, surf-skied and ran on Dee Why beach, interval-trained at an
athletics track and spent sapping sessions in the gym during a private tennis
camp after three-hour morning-practice sessions at White City.
"The training has been exceptional," Hewitt said. "We've really enjoyed it and
we've worked really hard."
Australian Davis Cup coach Wally Masur and highly rated New South Wales junior
Stephen Goh joined Hewitt and Rasheed.
Rasheed, a former top-150 player and SANFL footballer, chose Sydney to vary
Hewitt's training environment.
"We just wanted to break up the monotony a bit by coming up to Sydney," Rasheed
said.
"The week has revolved around hitting tennis balls for three hours in the
morning and then it's been a combination of other activities in the afternoon.
"We've done a lot of surf lifesaving activities, such as swimming, long distance
and sprint work on the beach and surf skiing.
"There's been football training. We've been on the athletic track and we've been
doing different things.
"Our tennis training and fitness work has been at the extreme end. We've taken
it to the extreme limits.
"We've gone for a complete mixture of different sports to get stronger and
fitter.
"Every year, Lleyton's aim is to get fitter and fitter.
"We believe that by performing all these different activities outside of tennis
that Lleyton will continue to develop athletically."
Hewitt rose from No. 19 to third in the world rankings after an outstanding
season highlighted by four victories, and appearances in the US Open and Masters
Cup finals.
The South Australian finished the year with a 68-18 record and more than $3.6
million in prizemoney.
Hewitt has gained 6kg in 18 months under Rasheed's direction, providing the
South Australian with more power.
Hewitt and Rasheed used the latter stages of last season to train for the Davis
Cup final, and the Sydney camp was a miniature of that.
"Lleyton's had only two weeks off since the Masters Cup in Houston," Rasheed
said.
"But we balance his training needs and his playing schedule with small breaks.
His aim is to be fitter than he's ever been by the time the Australian Open
starts."
Hewitt's launched his career with victory at Memorial Drive in 1998.
He will return to the tournament next month for the first time in three seasons
Lleyton is dating Rebecca Cartwright. article dated Dec 11
By Luke Dennehy
11dec04
LLEYTON Hewitt has found new love with soap star Bec Cartwright after the
break-up of his engagement to Kim Clijsters.
The Herald Sun has learned the pair are dating, with their first public outing
at a party thrown by Virgin boss Richard Branson this week.
A source said Hewitt asked Cartwright's associates a few weeks ago for her phone
number after learning she was single again.
He met her early this week in Sydney and romance is now on the cards.
Hewitt's engagement to fellow tennis star Clijsters ended in October. Cartwright
last week announced her four-year relationship with fellow Home and Away actor
Beau Brady was over. Hewitt first met Cartwright at a Starlight Children's
Foundation tennis charity day in Sydney in 1999, where they played together.
Months later, in January 2000, he met Clijsters.
Cartwright last week officially announced the break-up of her four-year
relationship with Brady, but that was believed to be finished weeks ago.
"The couple realised that their relationship, while no longer romantic, had
instead developed into a strong friendship," an official statement said.
There had been rumours Cartwright was seeing Russian-born dancer Michael Miziner,
with whom she won TV's Dancing With The Stars two weeks ago.
He told the Herald Sun he was waiting for his girlfriend to return home from
overseas.
Cartwright and Miziner will be appearing together at Twister nightclub at the
Palace in St Kilda tonight.
This week Clijsters announced she would not be coming to the Australian Open
because of a chronic wrist injury, avoiding an awkward meeting with Hewitt.
Since their split, Hewitt has maintained his silence.
He had a stellar year on the tennis circuit, climbing back to No. 3 in the world
rankings.
Cartwright has become one of Australia's most high-profile performers with her
success on Dancing With The Stars.
All eyes now will be on the couple during the Australian tennis season, which
begins after Christmas in Adelaide.
While Hewitt has found new romance, it is believed his close friend Andrew
McLeod has split with his wife Rachel, with whom he has two children.
It is believed the AFL star is staying at Hewitt's luxury Adelaide home.
LLEYTON'S NEW LOVE
December 5, 2004
What a way to mend a broken heart . . . just weeks after his split from fiancee
Kim Clijsters, former Wimbledon champion and world No 1 Lleyton Hewitt has been
raising eyebrows around the streets of Adelaide driving this $420,000 black
Ferrari.
Lleyton's early Christmas present to himself is a 360 Spider model with a top
speed of almost 300km/h. He bought the Ferrari ¡V the only one of its type in
Australia ¡V from a Melbourne dealership. In the wake of his split from former
fiance Kim Clijsters, the 2002 Wimbledon champion has found solace in one of the
fastest cars in the world.
And he is certainly raising eyebrows around the streets of Adelaide in his 360
Spider model, which has a top speed of 300km/h.
Hewitt, who has career earnings of more than $18 million, is taking a break over
Christmas/New Year ¡V spending plenty of time with close friend and Crows
midfielder Andrew McLeod.
The pair have become the talk of Adelaide, frequently seen about town, including
the basketball and the Adelaide Test.
Hewitt, 23, bought the Ferrari ¡V the only one in Australia ¡V from a Melbourne
dealership, following in the footsteps of fellow Davis Cup star Mark
Philippoussis, who previously owned a $600,000 Lamborghini Roadster. While
Hewitt's Ferrari isn't quite in the same league, it's still proving to be a
traffic-stopper.
The convertible two-seater boasts leather trim and a top-of-the-range stereo
system, as well as all the other luxuries you'd expect from a car with such a
price tag.
The Spider has 294kW or 400 horsepower and also has a fuel capacity of 95
litres, which means it costs about $100 to fill up. Hewitt, who bought the car
from Lance Dixon Prestige Cars in Melbourne, took delivery on Thursday.
The company's website shows the car retails for $395,000. Stamp duty is $19,950,
vehicle registration $500 and dealer delivery charges at least $3500 lifting
the total price to more than $420,000.
The Ferrari was ordered from the company's headquarters in Maranello, Italy,
shipped to the Melbourne dealership and then trucked to Adelaide.
While red Ferraris are the most popular, Hewitt specifically wanted a black
model. A salesman flew to Adelaide to personally deliver the car to Hewitt and
then took a drive with him.
Lesson over, Hewitt then took a spin from his luxury West Lakes home to AAMI
Stadium, where he showed off his latest acquisition to McLeod and other Crows
players.
On Thursday evening, the two dined in Glenelg before leaving in the Ferrari and
heading home.
Hewitt plane scare
By Leo Schlink
November 24, 2004
LLEYTON HEWITT's extraordinary string of near misses continued yesterday when
he had another lucky escape in Houston.
Hewitt, 23, was on his way to the airport when a plane sent to Texas to collect
former US president George Bush Sr clipped a telegraph pole, killing all three
people aboard.
The jet, a Gulfstream G-1159A, crashed in thick fog, 3km south of the airport. It was due to take Bush, who lives in Houston, to Ecuador for a series of lectures.
Hewitt, who later flew on a similar private jet from Houston to California with his parents Glynn and Cherilyn, coach Roger Rasheed and friend Jarrad, was delayed at the airport as an investigation began.
The world No.3, beaten in the Masters Cup final in Houston on Monday by Roger Federer, was told of the fatal accident as he waited to board his flight.
He later relaxed by playing golf with former James Bond actor George Lazenby at an exclusive California course.
Hewitt has narrowly avoided several disasters in his short career. He was flying to Australia from New York as the newly crowned US Open champion when the September 11 terrorist attacks were launched.
This year, he delayed his arrival in Italy for the Rome Masters in May, only to learn a fire had ravaged the tournament hotel, killing three people.
Andy Roddick was hailed as a hero during the blaze after saving the lives of several fellow guests, including Dutch player Sjeng Schalken.
Hewitt then travelled through Charles de Gaulle airport on the outskirts of Paris a day before a terminal roof collapsed, killing four people on May 24.
And he was buffeted by earthquakes and typhoons during the Japan Open in Tokyo in September.
Hewitt's semi-final in Japan was stopped because the indoor arena was flooded.
Hewitt has often reflected on the horrific September 11 carnage, remarking how "the world changed" while he was crossing the Pacific.
The South Australian will now take a short holiday before preparing for the Australian Hardcourt Championship in Adelaide in January.
He will play the Sydney International at Homebush before setting his sights
on a revenge meeting with defending champion Federer at the centenary Australian
Open. STORIES IN THIS SECTION Angry Lillee quits
Herald Sun
Quality vacuum sucks
life from Australian game
By Richard Hinds
November 12, 2004
SMH
When Tennis Australia asked the Australian Sports Commission to conduct an
independent review of its development programs, it expected a routine
confirmation of what is apparent - Australia is not producing enough elite
players.
Not even enough to fulfil Tennis Australia's own quota for a country that hosts
a grand slam tournament and has a tradition of excellence in the sport - at
least three men and three women in the world's top 100.
However, the report tabled at a Tennis Australia board meeting on Monday has
created more waves than anticipated. By questioning the effectiveness of the
sport's elite programs and its administration, it has put an unexpectedly harsh
focus on the dearth of rising Australian stars.
That Pat Rafter has added his voice to those concerns will heap more fuel on the
game's burning question: who, apart from Delta Goodrem, is to blame for the fact
No.3 Lleyton Hewitt is the only Australian male in the world's top 97 (Wayne
Arthurs is next at 98)?
The recent criticisms of Margaret Court and Pat Cash's former coach Ian Barclay
could easily be dismissed as laments of those trying to re-create former glories
or working outside the system. But that a player with such experience as Rafter
suggests more could be done - and that he is willing to help do it - will create
a stronger perception the game has problems.
Of course, with something as painstaking as player development, there are always
plenty willing to criticise and fewer willing to roll up their sleeves and get
stuck in. Given his skill and popularity, Rafter's offer of assistance should
therefore be seized upon immediately. But, other than attend meetings, what can
he do to ensure Australia's chances at the next grand slam are not one Hewitt
knee injury away from oblivion?
From those working to solve the problem, the answer is prefaced with the usual
reasons/excuses: the game is more competitive than 30 years ago; Australia has
lost a natural advantage with the decline of grasscourt tennis; talent is
cyclical, as evidenced by the fact, just a few years ago, Hewitt, Rafter and
Mark Philippoussis were firing.
Yet, in seeking help from the ASC, Tennis Australia has acknowledged the problem
goes deeper. It now spends $6 million a year on participation and development on
top of the almost $1 million provided by the ASC, which helps fund the AIS and
high performance programs. One star in Hewitt - and Alicia Molik's dramatic
improvement - is not enough bang for those bucks.
Tennis Australia's men's development manager, Peter Johnston, says the sport
already has an established elite pathway with its "The Journey" program. He
believes there are plenty of good juniors in the system. It is the amount of
competition that is the problem. "If you compare the amount of competition you
can get here to countries like Spain and France it's far less," he says. "If we
need to improve anything it's the number of Challengers and Satellites and
domestic tournaments for players here."
A long-held concern for Tennis Australia has been that tennis is no longer
"cool" and children do not want to play. A sharp fall in the number of people
playing in weekend competitions in Sydney would seem to suggest the amount
actually competing, rather than merely slapping balls over the net, has
declined.
However, Tennis NSW's development manager, Greg Sleigh, says more people are
playing competitively during the week because of lifestyle changes.
Even if there is still quantity, right now there is not quality at the top. If
he has ideas to offer, Rafter would seem a great bloke to help change that.
END
Rafter ready to serve
By Bruce Matthews
November 12, 2004
Herald Sun
TENNIS good guy Pat Rafter has put up his hand to become involved in any
shake-up to resurrect Australia's player stocks.
Rafter said he was one of several former tour players, such as Melbourne-based
Jason Stoltenberg and Paul Kilderry, willing to re-inject their knowledge into
the ailing sport in this country.
"There definitely needs to be change, no doubt about it. We've been saying that
for a little while," Rafter said yesterday.
"I think it's time that they start utilising a lot of guys more who have been on
the tour. Guys who are willing to put their hand up now like 'Stolts'
(Stoltenberg) and those type of blokes. Even guys like 'Killer' (Kilderry) who
got to a pretty good level of tennis.
"Obviously, we'd love to have Darren Cahill there as well. These guys have
actually been around and seen it all. We need to get these guys more active."
Rafter's readiness to serve, even in a part-time administrative role, follows a
damning independent review to the Australian Sports Commission on player
development which questioned Tennis Australia's structure and system for
producing elite players.
"I'm probably willing to get involved at some level because something needs to
be done," the dual US Open champion said.
"At one stage we had 10 or 12 guys in the top 100 and another eight or so guys
around the fringes. But we don't have any close to that (level)."
Rafter, whose lofty world standing alongside Lleyton Hewitt and Mark
Philippoussis camouflaged Australia's dwindling stocks, was unsure what role
would best suit him and the game.
"I don't really know yet. I'll have to see all the different positions that
could be taken. I don't want to be overly involved because I want to be there
for my family and I want to do my thing," he said.
"I could do a little bit on court. I've got to really space out how much I hit
now. But I guess I could sit on the sidelines a little bit. I could see myself
doing some sort of board level as well."
The 31-year-old, who commutes between Sydney and Noosa, agreed with Ian Barclay,
Pat Cash's former coach, that talent identification at an early age to build a
base of future stars was critical to any program.
"I sometimes think back to whether the children are distracted as well. Is it
happening in all sports? I don't know," he said.
"It's so easy to cop out being a kid now. Life's very easy. There are a lot of
factors. It (tennis) requires an early commitment at a young age. Even more so
than footy where I guy can play at 13 or so and learn those skills in a few
years. Whereas tennis, if you've gone past 10-years-old, I think you're too
late."
Rafter's thirst to be involved in a team sport led him to play the last five
games of the season with Essendon-affiliated club North Shore reserves in
Sydney's Aussies Rules competition.
Herald Sun
I
just had to get out: Hewitt
From Dave James in Paris
November 06, 2004
LLEYTON Hewitt today admitted that Paris proved to be the perfect bolthole when
his romance with Kim Clijsters hit the rocks last month.
The Australian, who has steadfastly refused to comment on the split with the
Belgian former world No.1, whom he was planning to marry in February,
temporarily let his guard down after being knocked out of the Paris Masters.
"I just had to get out of Australia, to tell you the truth," said Hewitt after
his 6-4 7-6 (7-2) quarter-final loss to Russia's Marat Safin.
"That's why I was in Paris early. I had nowhere left to practise so I thought I
would come here.
"But the courts weren't laid at Bercy, so I was at Roland Garros for a week.
Yeah, Paris is a nice place to be and ... I am happy that my game went up a
notch."
Meanwhile, Hewitt also believes Paris can help him and his countrymen lead a
revival in tennis in Australia where leading players, with the exception of
himself, are beginning to fall by the wayside.
Only Hewitt, at No.3, commands a place in the world's top 80, with veteran Wayne
Arthurs at 81, the unproven Todd Reid at 98 and the declining Mark Philippoussis
at 105.
Hewitt believes that the clay courts of Roland Garros could hold the key to
nurturing the next generation, and he has backed reported calls made by doubles
specialist Todd Woodbridge for Australia to replace some synthetic grass courts
with clay.
"It's something we need to do because even with the game that I have, I'm not a
natural clay court player purely because I didn't grow up on it," said the
23-year-old.
"I think it is lot easier for the good players to adjust if they are a clay
court specialist, to adjust to playing hard courts and grass courts rather than
vice versa.
"I try my best, but I'm not quite there movement wise purely because I haven't
grown up on that surface. The movement on clay is totally different. I move like
a hardcourt player."
Australian Davis Cup captain John Fitzgerald is also pushing to have more clay
courts built in the country to wean players off their reliance on faster
surfaces.
"John has put in a big push to try and get more clay courts. We have a lot of
synthetic grass, especially in Sydney," said Hewitt.
"But then again, to get European clay in Australia, it's pretty expensive. So
the best thing we can probably do is try and get a couple of courts in each
state right at the moment and get the best kids hitting on that from a young
age."