2008 news and updates

December 21

Don't write off Hewitt, warns Newcombe

Will Swanton
December 21, 2008 http://www.theage.com.au

LLEYTON Hewitt will attract his normal band of ignorant knockers wanting to criticise his every move when he struts into the Australian Open.

Hewitt has drawn on every inch of his fitness, willpower and glorious combativeness to raise himself into the elite of world tennis but not everyone is willing to praise this Herculean feat. One commentator routinely calls him "Little Lleyton" in the most condescending manner but has never even bothered to meet him.

Hewitt screams and gesticulates to rev himself up and the knockers say his behaviour is a disgrace. He tones it down and barely makes so much as a grunt and they bag him for going into his shell.

Regardless of the rights and wrongs of opinion, the theatre is magnificent and Hewitt is working his backside off with Tony Roche in Sydney for another assault on his national championship at Melbourne Park next month.

"He started working with Tony three weeks ago," Australia's former world No. 1 John Newcombe said this week.

"The last 10 days they've really picked it up and worked hard, and his biggest problem lately — his hip — is responding well.

"He wants to go hard for another two years, at least, and he believes he can get back into the top 10."

Hewitt became the youngest male world No. 1, at the age of 20, in November 2001. He spent 80 weeks on top of the mountain and even if he never returns, his Wimbledon, US Open and Davis Cup crowns are carved permanently into the history books.

A spate of injuries has him at No. 67 and he's been out of the top 10 since June 2006, but he's still top 10 where it matters — in his own head.

The bullish Rafael Nadal, the mercurial Roger Federer, the cocksure Novak Djokovic and the curmudgeonly Andy Murray have taken over the men's game, but in Hewitt's favour is how the Australian Open has become the biggest lottery of all the grand slams.

Players are coming off lay-offs and/or injuries and normal formguides can go out the window.

Newcombe suspects Murray may be the man to beat on Rod Laver Arena, but is adamant an injury-free Hewitt can reach the top five by the end of the year.

"Top four might be hard for him at the moment, but certainly he can beat anyone you want to name outside that top four," he said.

"Give him 12 months, and if he stays healthy, I'd be surprised if he's not in the top 10. Outside that top four, there's no one else there who you would say, 'Well, that guy is a champion.' Even (world No. 5) Nikolay Davydenko, he did play some great tennis at the Masters, but I've never ranked him as a really top player. All those guys outside the top four, I think of them as grand slam quarter-finalists. They're not winners when we get to the grand slams. Lleyton is a proven winner."

Newcombe has three words of advice for Hewitt: attack, attack, attack.

"If Lleyton plays defensively and relies on counter-attack, he's not going to get back in the top 10," he said.

"If he goes out and backs himself, hits a number of backhands down the line, gets his forehand going down the line and doesn't get stuck in this thing of hitting everything cross-court, he can do anything.

"With someone who volleys as well as Lleyton does, getting into the net has to be a serious option. He has an all-court game he can use to break up the baseliners. He can chip, he can come in, his instincts on a tennis court are exceptional.

"So many of the guys now hit the ball so hard off both sides that you have to take them out of their comfort zones. Lleyton has such a great all-round game that he can do it."

December 17

The indefatigable Lleyton Hewitt from Down Under is one of those athletes whose name will always resonate with nothing less than awe and respect.

As he battles injuries and struggles to gain an upper hand on the courts he once dominated and ruled, Hewitt time and again demonstrates the kind of fiery spirit, aggression and iron mettle that is perhaps unique only to Australians.

During the short but highly remembered 80 weeks that he spent rocking the men's tennis table, Hewitt captured scores of hearts along with trophies.

The way he wore his cap and his attacking style of play endeared him to almost everyone. Now many players sport hats the way he did, but they can't make the same kind of style statement.

When he became the youngest player in the history of the sport to be the World No. 1 at the age of 20, the world unanimously knew that this Australian was destined for far more greatness. And indeed, Hewitt's list of victims extends to players who themselves have ruled the roost.

Unfortunately, however, the greatness was cut short as injury after injury piled themselves upon him like a frequently visited friend. But each time he made his recovery, he showed the world of what he is forged of.

As the world No. 1, controversies dogged him, often threatening his career by portraying him as the ultimate villain. This was mainly due to his brash and temperamental attitude. Hewitt has never been a gentlemanly sort of a player. Sporty he is all right, but never one to take things lying down.

Turning a blind eye and a deaf ear to all such murky waters, Hewitt concentrated and did what he was best at doing: played scintillating tennis and leaving such negativity to subside on its own.

While some may hate Hewitt for his on-court manners and gesticulations, it was these antics that mainly brought people to connect with him and his game.

He may not have created records or equalled them, but the tenacity with which he played, the fight he gave for each and every point, the never-say-die attitude that he displayed are some attributes that will always be Hewitt's and Hewitt's alone.

He is not the No. 1 player right now, and is fighting to find his perfect rhythm; but when he comes to play, one look at his game is enough to spot the embers of a man who fought then and fights now as if his life depends on it. article from the bleacher report

December 11

Lleyton and Bec welcomed their son Cruz! Congratulations to them!

December 7

LLEYTON and Bec Hewitt's manager, David Drysdale, has thrown his support behind the couple after New Idea published a front-page story this week.

The women’s magazine ran the headline: "Bec's baby torment - why she can't forgive Lleyton."

In a letter to the Sunday Herald Sun, Drysdale called the New Idea article "journalistic rubbish" and said people needed to be made aware of "untruths".

"I feel for the Australian public that they pay good money for some magazines, to read stories that are not true in relation to many celebrities," he wrote.

"This is often the reason why celebrities organise specific deals with magazines, so that at times there is a story of truth published,so that constant fictional stories can be proved to be just that."

Drysdale said the Hewitts had been hounded by paparazzi.

Recently, pictures of their daughter appeared in Women's Day that were taken by photographers shooting over the fence from next door.

He said paparazzi behaviour had become dangerous.

"All celebrities, including Lleyton and Bec, accept they are in the public eye and that people are keen to know more about them is a given," he wrote.

"But with untruths being published and your family being stalked for photos, where is the line drawn? Does being a public figure mean different privacy laws to what the rest of us expect?"

December 6

LLEYTON Hewitt is treading a tentative path after returning to the court last week following hip surgery in August.

The dual-Grand Slam champion, who battled the problem for months before deciding on the procedure after his loss to Rafael Nadal in the Beijing Olympics, has spent the past week hitting under the guidance of Tony Roche in Sydney.

Hewitt's manager, David Drysdale, said the recovering star was yet to fully test the hip but was pleased with his progress.

"He is just taking it easy for a couple of weeks and then he will be back into the full swing," Drysdale said.

"It is fairly light. He is obviously quite cautious at the moment, but he feels good and if that continues he will start building up from next week.

"Touch wood that continues, but all reports from Tony Roche are that all is good."

Hewitt, 27, slipped to No 67 in the world during his absence from the tour and failed for the first time since claiming the Adelaide International as a 16-year-old in 1998 to win a title.

His best efforts came at the Australian Open, where he lost in the fourth round to Novak Djokovic, and at Wimbledon, where he was knocked out in the corresponding round by Roger Federer.

The former Wimbledon and US Open champion, who will return in Perth's mixed-teams Hopman Cup early next month, needs to better his Melbourne result to prevent a further rankings slide.

But should Hewitt return to the circuit trouble-free and in form, it is likely he will rebuild his ranking quickly given he has few points to defend.

Hewitt's commitment to several early-season tournaments will assist that cause, with his first official ATP event the Sydney International a week before the Australian Open.

While Hewitt will be busy early in the year, Swiss champion Federer is adopting a lighter claycourt schedule as he seeks to find a solution for the French Open, the only Grand Slam title he is yet to win.

The world No 2, who has lost the past three French Open finals to Nadal, will play only two claycourt events, in Rome and Madrid, before the Roland Garros event.

Federer played 18 matches in four claycourt tournaments leading into this year's French Open, where he was thrashed by Nadal.

He claimed a title in Portugal but was also beaten by the Spanish world No1 in finals in Monte Carlo and Hamburg.

The 27-year-old, who captured the US Open despite a year hampered by illness and injury, made it clear through his agent in October that he would focus primarily on the major titles in his final years.

While the top-liners' programs are penned for next season, several fringe locals are preparing in Perth for the Australian Open wild-card play-off beginning at Melbourne Park on Monday week.

Former Australian Open junior champion Brydan Klein was a winner yesterday, but Bernard Tomic forfeited while trailing in his second-round match.

November 9

TAKING his first decent break from tennis in 13 years may have mellowed former world No.1 Lleyton Hewitt.

The Grand Slam champion, who has been off the court for the past four months with chronic hip soreness, was less guarded than usual when talking to the media this week.

It may have been the subject matter, which is close to his and wife Bec's heart, or the fact time out has given him an opportunity to step back and refocus.

Whatever the reason, Hewitt was relaxed and excited talking about making a comeback, the imminent arrival of his second child and the celebrity fundraising auction he and Bec have helped put together to raise money for children with cancer.

"It (taking a break) has freshened me up a lot. I've never had an extended break before," he said.

While he's determined to return to the top five in world tennis by the end of next year, Hewitt admits to feeling anxious about ageing and the impact of injuries on his career.

"I feel pretty good at the moment. You never know after surgery though. This is the first major surgery of my career."

January is going to be a busy month for the Hewitts, with the 27-year-old tennis ace beginning his comeback, playing in the Australian Open and the arrival of the couple's second child.

He said the new baby will present a whole new set of challenges, but he thinks they are up to it and plans to travel as a family as often as possible.

"I'm hoping to play a lot more tournaments next year and hopefully the family will travel with me."

Hewitt will be in Melbourne on Tuesday to promote the Cure For Kids auction on website www.eSwap.com.au

Items being auctioned from today include the tennis racquet used by world No.1 Rafael Nadal when he beat Roger Federer in this year's Wimbledon final, Ana Ivanovic's pink tennis dress from her French Open win, as well as items from celebrities including Russell Crowe, Andre Agassi, Gwen Stefani, Toni Collette and Hugh Jackman.

"We've got a signed shirt from Federer that he actually gave me after he beat me, which is the last thing you want to see from someone who has beaten you in the locker room," Hewitt said.

He said it was tricky asking fellow sporting greats, dignitaries and celebrities for items for the auction.

"It's been hard bringing it all together - but it's very satisfying."

November 9

LLEYTON Hewitt's lavish lifestyle could be yours. The tennis champion is selling his waterfront mansion, complete with an indoor waterfall.

Hewitt paid $3.2 million in 2003 for the property that is as brash as his on-court demeanour, but since then he has rarely lived in it.

The five-bedroom house is being spruiked as one of "South Australia's most prestigious homes'' and a "place of sanctuary and escape''.

Hewitt and his wife Bec Cartwright, who are expecting their second child in January, also own two substantial Sydney properties: one at Palm Beach and another at Kenthurst.

Hewitt's dad Glynn said with the loss of the Adelaide International Hardcourt and his son planning a big comeback to the ATP tour after hip surgery, there was no reason to keep the house.

"We made this decision (to sell) more recently in analysing what his schedule is next year,'' he said.

"He's looking to have a more full season on the tour next year to get his rank higher, he's just not going to be here.

"It's a great place, it's a unique place, it's just a shame that it just doesn't get the use. His main opportunity to come to Adelaide was during the hardcourt, that's now been relocated to Brisbane.

"It just becomes more work to maintain ... it was a logical move.''

The two-storey, 700sqm home features an indoor pool, spa, sauna, commercial cool room, home theatre, billiards room and sports bar and a interior moss rock waterfall.

The house is located in prestigious Island Point and overlooks a boating lake. The only feature it lacks is a tennis court.

"He's had it there for five years, even then the property is virtually brand new because he hasn't been in it too much,'' Glynn Hewitt said.

Selling agent Steve von der Boch of Brock Harcourts describes the property on a real estate website as a "a place to indulge in the luxury and atmosphere of a six-star international hotel but to have it available every day at home.''

The property has no specific asking price with Hewitt instructing Mr von der Boch to ask for expressions of interest.

"Lleyton is of the determination to sell it, it's just a matter of finding out where the market is,'' he said.

November 2

A big up to Lleyton Hewitt, the Australian former world No.1 (from November 2001, to April 2003) and Wimbledon champion in 2002. He may be recovering from a hip operation, his world ranking is 69 after so long excelling in the top 10, he has played only ten tour events this year and is not sure exactly how long he will have left duelling with the best in the game but he has hardly been sitting around waiting for something nice to happen. He is making it happen.

Now 27 years old - is that not difficult to believe? - the four time Queen's Club champion and Bec, his wife, have been touring Australia seeking to raise funds for Cure Our Kids, a charity supporting children with cancer at the Westmead Hospital in New South Wales. The tennis community has rallied around brilliantly, as have those in other sports and from the theatrical family where Bec spent her teenage years.

"Bec and I have been overwhelmed by the generosity shown by many of our friends both here and on the world stage," Hewitt said. "Rafael Nadal donated the racquet he used to win the Wimbledon final, Steffi Graf and Andre Agassi both donated tennis racquets, while Roger Federer gave us the shirt off his own back."

It is exceptionally assuring to hear that people have been so supportive. For those who might like to join in the fun and offer succour to an excellent cause, they should visit www.eswap.com.au where there are around 100 items to bid for. One of the latest additions is a Manchester United shirt that will be signed personally by Wayne Rooney, once someone has offered more than the A$2215 that leads the way with a couple of days left to bid. Rooney, the Net Post is told, will not sign the shirt until he knows the name of the recipient, a particular quirk of the England footballer.

You can purchase two tickets for next year's Wimbledon women's singles final and the Net Post's personal favourite, an opportunity to meet and greet The Wiggles. For those not of an Antipodean bent, The Wiggles are the most popular characters on television Down Under (Andre Agassi used to swear by them to keep his kids entertained during the Australian Open) and are even funnier than Madge and Harold when they were ruling the roost in Ramsay Street.

As for Hewitt himself, he aims to return to the tennis mainstream at the Hopman Cup mixed event in Perth at Christmas, and then intends to play in the Sydney International the week before the Australian Open before competing in his home grand slam for the 13th consecutive year. Good on him.

Sept 10

THE mystery behind the non-selection of Australia's fourth-ranked player from the least-experienced Davis Cup squad to leave these shores can now be revealed: Dutch-born world No. 154 Robert Smeets is not an Australian citizen, despite having lived here for almost half his life.

The Australian Institute of Sport scholarship-holder may yet join the party of six for next week's world group qualifying tie against favourite Chile, with Tennis Australia backing Smeets' long-standing but so far fruitless entreaties to the immigration department.

Captain John Fitzgerald's four-man team of Chris Guccione, Peter Luczak and debutants Carsten Ball and Sam Groth was lodged with the International Tennis Federation last night as required.

Yet only Guccione's place appears certain, as changes can be made up to one hour before the draw next Thursday, and practice court form will be telling.

A late exemption from the Government would enable Smeets to be added to the travelling party, rather than replacing an existing member of a squad completed by the Australian Open junior champions of the past two years: Brydan Klein and Bernard Tomic.

It is believed that, like foreign-born Australian residents Jarmila Gajdosova and Anastasia Rodionova, Smeets has had his citizenship applications stymied over the past three years because his job as a professional tennis player prevents him from spending the required amount of time each year in Australia. The left-hander was born in Sliedrecht, the Netherlands, in 1985, and emigrated with his family at the age of 13.

Smeets has won only one of seven tour-level singles matches in his career but contested the past two Australian Opens and this year received a wildcard into the French Open through Tennis Australia's reciprocal deal with the French tennis federation.

The Queenslander is a friend and sometime doubles partner of Guccione who, in Lleyton Hewitt's absence, will lead the team in the claycourt tie in Antofagasta from Friday week. Guccione and Smeets reached the doubles final of the Adelaide International in January and would provide a valuable day-two option from among a young group bereft of established combinations.

Smeets could not be contacted yesterday, and Tennis Australia declined to comment on the issue. Fitzgerald, Groth and Klein leave for Chile today, while coach Darren Cahill has been preparing Ball, Tomic and Guccione in Las Vegas.

Luczak lost in the first round of his comeback tournament in the Netherlands last week, having been sidelined with a hip injury since May, and while the Victorian claycourter remains one of only two available players with cup experience, Smeets is ranked 17 places higher, and behind only Hewitt (56), Guccione (87) and veteran Joe Sirianni (147).

Ball is 188th, Groth 234th, Klein 239th and Tomic 818th.

Australia's two previous ventures to South America have resulted in 5-0 drubbings from Argentina, without and with Hewitt.

This time, the opposition will include Chilean star Fernando Gonzalez, who boasts an intimidating 17-2 cup record on clay, dual Athens Olympic gold medallist Nicolas Massu, Paul Capdeville and Hans Podlipnik.

Sept 9

TENNIS star Lleyton Hewitt and his pregnant wife Bec are set to add to their property portfolio by building a beachfront holiday home in Adelaide.

Hewitt's manager David Drysdale yesterday scotched a woman's magazine report hinting the tennis champ was relocating his growing brood to Adelaide after shots surfaced of the couple surveying the block of land with a team of architects and builders.

While the mag said the young family was looking to buy, Hewitt had owned the land at The Esplanade for several years.

"Lleyton has had the land for quite some time, and while they may be looking at building on it they are definitely not leaving Sydney," Drysdale told Confidential.

The Hewitts own two properties in Sydney - at Palm Beach and Kenthurst.

Aug 23

Australian Davis Cup teammates will struggle to carry on as Lleyton Hewitt recovers after finally submitting to the hip surgery which could revitalise his career.

But with the former No. 1 out in a best-case scenario until January's Australian Open, the nation's Davis Cup relegation date next September 19-21 against Chile could be looking dicey for the team.

“I'm shattered that I can’t lead the Australian Davis Cup team in Chile in our bid to rejoin the World Group”, said Hewitt. “I open that the boys can still come through with a great win”.

The away tie in South American will be a tough ask for the fading tennis power.

Patchy Chris Guccione, a first-round loser in five of his last six tournaments, will be the lone Aussie man straight into the US Open. He will also be the point man for a depleted Davis team.

The big man holds three singles wins this season in the worldwide team competition against minimal opponents Taiwan and Thailand. Chile will definitely be a step up in quality, with Olympic silver medallist Fernando Gonzalez leading the home stand on clay.

It's going to be a tough decision for captain John Fitzgerald and coach Darren Cahill. “My heart goes out to Lleyton, I know how much he loves to play for his country and how badly he wants us to win our way back into the World Group”, said Fitzy.

”He's the best performed Davis Cup player in our history, so they are big shoes to fill. We hope he makes a speedy recovery and he'll be playing by the Australian summer. With Lleyton out it is an opportunity for someone else to step up“.

Aug 19

Lleyton Hewitt today revealed that he has had to withdraw from the US Open next week after having surgery to his troubled hip area.

After exhausting every other possibility, other than surgery, recently at the Olympics Hewitt found it impossible and frustrating not being able to continue to play and be competitive at the highest level. “ Surgery was always the last resort, but unfortunately that’s what it came down to.” Hewitt said.

The surgery consisted of a hip arthroscopy and repairing of a hip labral tear.

Hewitt explained that he was extremely disappointed at missing the US Open, a grand slam event where he has enjoyed much success in the past.

“I am also shattered that I can’t lead the Australian Davis Cup team in Chile in our bid to rejoin the world group, and hope that the boys can still come through with a great win”.

Hewitt will now focus on his rehabilitation before commencing training for the Australian Summer Circuit. “I am looking forward to playing again in January in my home country, and using that as a springboard to compete at my best again on the world stage for at least a couple of more years”.

Aug 15

Lleyton Hewitt and Chris Guccione ended Australian interest in the Olympics tennis tournament on Friday morning (AEST) when the doubles pair suffered a 6-4, 6-3 defeat to the United States.

The top seed US pairing, brothers Bob and Mike Bryan, easily accounted for the Australian duo that staged a major upset on Wednesday morning against Spaniards Rafael Nadal and Tommy Robredo.

Hewitt and Guccione's loss spelled an end to any hopes Australia still held of gaining a medal from the Olympics, with every player already eliminated from their respective singles draws.

Hewitt and Guccione started superbly, racing to a 3-0 lead in the first set, before they dropped serve to love at 4-1 and began to unravel.

Victory would have advanced Hewitt and Guccione to at least a bronze medal match.

Earlier, Australia's Samantha Stosur and Rennae Stubbs bowed out of the women's doubles tournament with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 loss to Spanish duo Anabel Garrigues and Virginia Pascual.

Alas, Australia's participation at the Olympic tennis tournament is now all over.

Aug 14

Lleyton Hewitt avenged Tuesday night's straight sets exit at the hands of Rafael Nadal in the singles by stunning the Spaniard in the doubles on Thursday morning (AEST) at the Beijing Olympics.

Hewitt and Chris Guccione progressed to the quarter finals after beating Nadal and Tommy Robredo in straight sets 6-2, 7-6 (7-5).

The result was a major upset, with Nadal (108) and Robredo's (80) doubles rankings far outstripping the less-fancied Hewitt (634) and Guccione (253).

The win comes after the Australians prevailed over Argentinians Agustin Santiago Calleri and Juan Monaco on Monday evening in a marathon three-setter that continued long into the night.

That match clearly sapped the energy of Hewitt, who was soundly beaten by the incoming singles world number one Nadal the next day.

But Guccione and Hewitt made faster work of Wednesday night's match, and despite a tight last set the contest was over in an hour and 24 minutes.

The Australian pair will face top seeded Americans Mike and Bob Bryan in the next round.

Aug 13

Australia's Lleyton Hewitt has set his sights on revenge against Rafael Nadal in the Olympic doubles tournament after being bundled out of the singles by the Spaniard.

Hewitt, still feeling the effects of a marathon, late-night doubles match which set a modern-day record, fell 6-1, 6-2 to the incoming world number one.

But the 27-year-old Hewitt gets another chance for victory on Wednesday when he lines up with Chris Guccione against Nadal and Tommy Robredo.

"It's going to be a tough match. He plays a little bit of doubles, but not a lot," said Hewitt.

"'Gooch' and I got a lot of confidence out of last night's match. It was one of the most enjoyable matches I've been a part of, and I've played in some pretty big matches."

The Australian pair outlasted Argentina's Juan Monaco and Agustin Calleri 4-6, 7-6 (7-4), 18-16 in the early hours of Tuesday morning, the most number of games in an Olympic men's doubles match since the sport's return in 1988.

Hewitt, clearly not at his best after the late-night finish, never looked competitive against Nadal and was broken five times.

"It wasn't easy. I put a lot of effort into last night's match, probably didn't get to bed until about 3:00am," he said.

"So it wasn't the best preparation. Rafa's a tough enough player to play when you're feeling 100 per cent and fully fit and rested up."

Nadal got the expected breakthrough in game four and, despite a Hewitt break early in the second, was rarely troubled.

He laid a backhand past the Australian for the decisive break in the second set and converted the first match point when Hewitt netted his service return.

Nadal levelled their career head-to-head ledger at 4-4 and made it three in a row against the Australian.

Nadal, 22, will reach the number one ranking on Monday while Hewitt last occupied the top spot in June 2003.

Aug 11

Lleyton Hewitt has beaten Swedish veteran Jonas Bjorkman in straight sets to book a second-round meeting tomorrow with Rafael Nadal at the Olympic tennis tournament in Beijing.

Hewitt rallied from a service break down in the second set to advance with a 7-5 7-6 (7-2) victory over 36-year-old Bjorkman, the oldest player in the men's singles draw.

After a hip complaint threatened to derail his Olympic campaign, Hewitt admitted the injury was still playing on his mind.

"I've probably been more worried since Wimbledon whether it was going to be right," the top ranked Australian said after the match.

"It wasn't too bad. There are still times when I can feel it now and then but it was good to get out of that second set and win it in straight sets."

Nadal, who will officially assume the world No.1 ranking from Roger Federer after the Games, earlier today outlasted Italian Potito Starace 6-2 3-6 6-2 in his first-round encounter at the Olympic Green Tennis Centre.

Hewitt admits Nadal will be a tough second round opponent, but knew he would have to face the in-form Spaniard eventually.

"A guy like Rafa, he's pumped up any time he walks out onto the court... that's his personality.

"Nothing's really going to change between a first round for him or a final.

"Obviously he handles semi-finals and finals extremely well."

Nadal insists Hewitt's world ranking belies his form.

"For sure he's one of the best players of the world but he's not playing all the time..." said Nadal.

"For sure he's a very dangerous player. One of the worst second rounds in the draw."

In other first round results, top seed Roger Federer cruised through his first round clash with Dmitry Tursunov of Russia 6-4 6-2.

Aug 8

LLEYTON Hewitt's tumble into unseeded territory for the first time in almost a decade has come at a cost. If he makes the second round, he'll face Rafael Nadal. The Australian will return to Olympic competition on Sunday against Swedish veteran Jonas Bjorkman, who will retire at the end of the season.

But far from the lofty heights of his once permanent top-10 ranking, Lleyton Hewitt will compete as the world No. 20 - ahead of a fall to around 60th over the next two weeks. Wimbledon and US Open winner is successful against gritty Bjorkman, he will be cast into the least-envied match-up in international tennis: a probable second-round clash with Rafael Nadal.

The domineering Spaniard will take over the world No. 1 ranking from Roger Federer in the next fortnight, ending the Swiss maestro's record 236-week reign.

And the French Open and Wimbledon champion will not want any unexpected hiccups against his good friend and practice partner Hewitt.

The pair shares a tight rivalry, which Hewitt leads 4-3.

Soon to be deposed Federer clashes with Russian Dmitry Tursunov in the opening round.

Victorian Chris Guccione plays American James Blake in slick conditions which should suit the Australian's steepling serve.

Wildcard Alicia Molik has been pitted against Atlanta's 1996 gold medallist Lindsay Davenport who, like Bjorkman, will bow out of tennis at the end of the year.

Perth's Casey Dellacqua, Australia's highest-ranked woman at world No. 39, faces Argentine Gisela Dulko.

And resurgent Samantha Stosur meets Italian Sara Errani.

Australia will be represented in doubles by Hewitt and Guccione and Paul Hanley and Jordan Kerr.
Dellacqua and Molik will combine in women's doubles, leaving Stosur and Rennae Stubbs to team up.

Aug 7

Lleyton Hewitt is hoping his battered body not only holds up for the Beijing Olympics and US Open, but also Australia's do-or-die Davis Cup tie with Chile next month.

In a huge boost for Cup captain John Fitzgerald, Hewitt revealed yesterday he was still a chance of contesting Australia's world group playoff in Santiago from September19-21 despite having been a doubtful Olympic starter up until last week.

A nagging hip injury has limited Hewitt to just four events since March and the former world No1 arrived in Beijing last night having not played since losing to Roger Federer in the fourth round at Wimbledon five weeks ago.

The 27-year-old admitted season-ending surgery was ''definitely an option'', but preferably only after if at all he had another crack at Olympic and grand slam glory, and trying to lead Australia back into the Davis Cup's 16-nation world group.

''Right at the moment, I'm just focusing on the Olympics and then the US Open,'' Hewitt said.

''If I can get through those two with no problems, then obviously the Davis Cup in Chile straight after that.

''That's what I'd like.

''But playing on hard courts is a lot different than probably clay and grass as well.''

Hewitt conceded he'd only been a remote possibility of playing in Beijing after Wimbledon.

But extensive treatment followed by some decent training in Sydney with coach Tony Roche now has Hewitt feeling quietly confident.

''It was sort of on a day-to-day basis and I was never going to fully commit until I knew that it didn't flare up and wasn't going to make it any worse, especially for my career going forward,'' he said.

''But with everything said, it felt pretty good last week and hopefully I'll be right come Sunday.'' AAP

Aug 6

LLEYTON Hewitt has been allowed to take his own physiotherapist to Beijing to help him battle his hip soreness. Hewitt, 27, arrived in China last night and went to the athletes' village.

He was accompanied by team tennis coach John Fitzgerald and Melbourne physiotherapist Ivan Gutierrez. The presence of Gutierrez was Hewitt's only concession as he moved into shared accommodation among Australia's 433-member team.

Hewitt is bunking down with Victorian teammate Chris Guccione and they will play doubles. Manager David Drysdale said Hewitt was excited about fraternising with fellow Olympians in the village.

"Lleyton wants to enjoy the whole Olympic experience," Drysdale said.

"He's not staying away from the village, he's sharing with 'Gooch' and he wants to march in the opening ceremony. "He feels strongly about being part of the Australian team."

Drysdale said Gutierrez had been allowed to join the Australian contingent after discussions with the Australian Olympic Committee and Tennis Australia. "Ivan will be there because he knows what it (left hip injury) is and what's required," he said.

"Ivan plans to treat it a little bit differently to what he's done in the past to help Lleyton get through."

Hewitt will fly to New York for the US Open as soon as his Olympic involvement ends. The former world No. 1 yesterday boarded a flight out of Sydney and will bid for his first Olympic medal and his first victory in an Olympic match.

Hewitt lost in the first round in Sydney and missed Athens because of injury. He confirmed his troublesome hip was up to the rigours of the hardcourt test in high heat and humidity.

Hewitt will have more treatment on the joint before his first match on Sunday or Monday. "The hip is as good as what it can be," Drysdale said.

"But he's determined to play. "He's also determined to play the US Open." Hewitt sits at 28th in the world rankings and will slip to about 60th next week after missing two Masters Series tournaments in the US in the past fortnight.

Roger Federer, set to lose the world No. 1 ranking to Rafael Nadal after the Olympics, is the top seed in Beijing. Australians Paul Hanley and Jordan Kerr will contest the doubles, while Sam Stosur, Alicia Molik and Casey Dellacqua will play singles and doubles. Sydney doubles veteran Rennae Stubbs completes the team.

Aug 5

LLEYTON Hewitt will contest the Beijing tennis event despite lingering hip soreness.

The former world No.1 boarded a flight out of Sydney this morning, bound for China where he will bid for his first Olympic medal.

The Wimbledon and US Open winner confirmed his troublesome left hip was up to the rigours of the hardcourt test in high heat and humidity.

Hewitt, 27, will have more treatment on the joint before his first match on Sunday or Monday.

"The hip is as good as what it can be," Hewitt's manager, David Drysdale, said.

"To be honest, we haven't talked that much about it. But he's determined to play. He missed Athens after playing Sydney (where he lost in the first round) and he really wants to play this time.
"He's also determined to play the US Open."

Hewitt sits at No.28 in the world rankings and will slip to around No.60 next week after missing two key US tournaments.

Roger Federer, destined to lose the world No.1 ranking to Rafael Nadal after the Olympic tournament, remains the top seed.

Hewitt will play singles and doubles alongside Victorian Chris Guccione.

Paul Hanley and Jordan Kerr will contest the men's doubles, while Sam Stosur, Alicia Molik and Casey Dellacqua will play singles and doubles.

Sydney doubles veteran Rennae Stubbs completes the team.

July 31

An unofficial Tuesday deadline looms for Lleyton Hewitt's Beijing aspirations, with the Australian No. 1 having returned to the practice court late last week after being forced out of the Toronto and Cincinnati Masters with ongoing hip issues.

Hewitt has not played since losing to Roger Federer in the fourth round at Wimbledon, but remains positive about his prospects of being fit to compete at a second Olympics when the tennis event starts on August 10, according to his manager, David Drysdale.

"I reckon by Tuesday afternoon we should know whether he's going or not," Drysdale said.

"I feel there's a very strong chance he's going to play, but I'm not going to say he's definitely playing because we can't rule out that he might pull up sore.

"He's been hitting again this week, and it's just about working out the levels of discomfort and whether some of the different bits and pieces (of treatment) that we've had done are making a difference or not. He's had a bit of a rest and obviously the hardcourts are a little bit different, but I guess we're just sussing it out.

"We're all hopeful that he'll be OK. There's no doubt about it, he really wants to play the Olympics."

Surgery remains a last resort for Hewitt, whose singles ranking has dipped to 28th and will suffer another bruising through his inability to defend the points he earned after reaching the Cincinnati semi-finals last year. The 27-year-old has also been granted a doubles wildcard in Beijing with Davis Cup teammate Chris Guccione. Having declined to compete in Athens four years ago, Hewitt's only previous Olympic experience was in Sydney in 2000, when he lost to Max Mirnyi of Belarus in the first round.

From China, Hewitt intends to fly straight to New York to prepare for the US Open, where he won his first grand slam title in 2001. He has thought no further than Australia's Davis Cup world group qualifying tie against Chile in late September.

"If he can get through the Olympics and the US I feel he'll play Davis Cup and then we'll have a look at it again," Drysdale said.

"Surgery's the last option, and we have to be sure that the surgery would fix it."

July 4

Olympic officials remain hopeful Lleyton Hewitt can avoid hip surgery to spearhead Australia's tennis campaign at the Beijing Games next month.

Hewitt has been named in an eight-person Australian line-up which on current form could match or better the country's previous best Olympic medal tennis tally.

A Tennis Australia spokesman said Hewitt, who was a fourth round Wimbledon casualty at the hands of world No.1 Roger Federer, needed to seek further medical advice on his troublesome hip problem.

"At this stage I believe he's going to get it checked out," the spokesman said.

"But he hasn't pulled out as yet so we assume he's playing.

"We do know he's very keen to play."

Fifty-six male and female players gained direct entry based on their singles rankings immediately after last month's French Open with 17 of the men's top 20 and 18 of the women's top 20 confirmed for the Beijing tournament which will run from August 10-17.

Hewitt, ranked world No.27, is the only Australian entry to the men's singles, although Chris Guccione (ranked 77) is likely to play as he is first in line should another player withdraw.

Those two will also play doubles, while Paul Hanley joins Jordan Kerr in Australia's other men's doubles team.

Australia has won a medal at each Olympics since the sport was re-introduced in 1988.

The country's only singles medal came in Athens in 2004 through Alicia Molik, who won bronze.

The only tennis gold won by Australia went to Mark Woodforde and Todd Woodbridge in 1996 in Atlanta.

While Hewitt playing in Australia colours is always a medal chance, the country's best hopes lie with the women.

Samantha Stosur and Casey Dellacqua have been included in the women's singles, as has former world No.8 Molik, who received a wildcard entry earlier this week.

Dellacqua will partner Molik in the doubles and Stosur will join Rennae Stubbs in the other women's doubles team.

Stosur has made it through to the semi-finals of women's doubles and the mixed doubles at Wimbledon.

The in-form Dellacqua, currently ranked world No.43, is also through to the Wimbledon women's doubles semis.

Dellacqua, who made the fourth round in singles at the Australian Open and the third round at the French, was a finalist in the women's doubles at Roland Garros.

Australian Olympic squad: Men: Lleyton Hewitt (singles and doubles), Chris Guccione, Paul Hanley, Jordan Kerr (doubles only). Women: Casey Dellacqua, Samantha Stosur, Alicia Molik (singles and doubles), Rennae Stubbs (doubles only).

June 30

Roger Federer ended Lleyton Hewitt's Wimbledon campaign with a straight-sets fourth-round victory over Australia's 2002 champion today. Federer increased his winning streak on grass to 63 with a 7-6 (9-7) 6-2 6-4 win over the 20th-seeded Hewitt in one hour and 49 minutes.

Hewitt paid tribute to Federer's unrivalled ability to absorb pressure after the top seed took time to settle."The first set could have gone either way. I had chances in the tiebreak," said Hewitt."But he served extremely well today. Any quarter chances I got I didn't have for long. He hit the lines very well today and that's why he's the best player in the world, especially on this surface."

The victory also secured the top ranking for at least another week for Federer, regardless of how he fares the rest of the tournament. Federer, who is seeking his sixth consecutive title at the All England Club, now has a 14-7 win-loss record - including 12 straight victories - against Hewitt, the last man to win Wimbledon before the Swiss began his dominance of the event.

After clinching the first-set tiebreak on his fourth set point with an ace, Federer stepped up.He won the fourth game to love for a 4-0 lead in the second set, which he closed out comfortably.

In the third set, Hewitt failed to take some early chances against Federer, who sealed victory on his second of three match points when Hewitt netted a return. It was Federer's serving and ability to win the big points which ultimately proved the difference.

The world No.1 converted his only three break-point opportunities of the match - two in the second set and one in the third - while Hewitt was unable to capitalise on any of his eight break-point chances on Federer's serve.

"He hit the target every time," Hewitt said of Federer's serve."I had break-point chances there late in the second set and early in the third set. I didn't do too much wrong with them.

"When he's serving like that, it's not easy on this surface purely because his serve sets up the point for him to play in his comfort zone."It's very hard to take him out of that zone."

Federer thundered down 21 aces to Hewitt's eight to set up a quarter-final with Croatian Mario Ancic, the last man to beat the Swiss dominator at Wimbledon - some six years ago.

The two players had entered a packed Centre Court to a standing ovation and a small but vocal band of Australian supporters were fully behind Hewitt. They sang several tailor-made chants, squealing each time Federer hit the ball in the warm-up and grunting heartily when their compatriot hit it back.

With Hewitt trailing 3-4 in the opening set - and just hours after the news broke that he and wife Bec, a former Home And Away star - are expecting their second baby in January, the Australian fans launched into the soap's theme song in a bid to lift their compatriot.

But it was to no avail. "I served considerably well when I had to," Federer said. "But I could see Lleyton was struggling. The tiebreaker was key as that put me on the way and I saved break points when I had to."

Hewitt must now decide whether to undergo surgery for a hip injury which has troubled him since March or push through the pain barrier and continue with his plans to contest the Beijing Olympics and US Open in August.

June 30

quote from http://www.lleytonandbechewitt.com

" Bec and Lleyton today announced that they were expecting their second child in January 2009.

In an exclusive interview, available this week, with OK Magazine Australia, Bec, Lleyton and Mia explain their joy of the impending addition to the family.

They chose OK Magazine, recently awarded Magazine of the Year in Australia, after discussions with award winning editor Kim Wilson. Bec and Lleyton particularly approved of the quality of journalism and presentation that the magazine provides. "

June 27

Lleyton Hewitt lined up a clash with five-time champion Roger Federer in the last 16 of Wimbledon after disposing of Italian Simone Bolelli today.

The Australian flew out of the blocks following the rain delay to claim the opening two sets at a canter, and though the 22-year-old Bolelli showed more aggression in the third set, Hewitt came through in the tie-break to win 6-1 6-3 7-6 (7/2).

Hewitt, the only man other than Federer in the men's draw to have won the tournament, will now take on the Swiss number one in a mouth-watering clash.

The 2002 champion raced into a 3-0 lead and Bolelli, a dentist's son from Bologna, had to save two break points in the fourth game to get on the board. A double-fault allowed Hewitt to go 5-1 up and he easily closed out the set.

Bolelli, whose second serve was a gift to Hewitt's forceful groundstrokes, was broken again in the third game of the second set as a superb whipped forehand winner was greeted with pumping fists from the 27-year-old Australian.

Bolelli had been the conqueror of Britain's Alex Bogdanovic and Chilean ace Fernando Gonzalez in the first two rounds but looked out of his depth, saving another break point in the fifth game before conceding the set in game nine with a risky drop shot which Hewitt easily chased down.

Hewitt looked keen to get it over with as the skies darkened but Bolelli finally found rhythm with his serve to force a tie-break, but the Australian always had the edge and two mini-breaks proved sufficient.

He now faces a 21st meeting with Federer, who is 13-7 up in their head-to-head clashes, having lost to the Swiss star in the semi-finals here three years ago.

Asked how he would treat the match, Hewitt said: Obviously you treat it a bit different to other matches. In the last five years, no-one has been able to get it right - Rafa (Nadal) has got close but no-one else.

"I am going to have to play extremely well. Is that my absolute best? I don't know, it depends how he plays as well."

June 25

LLEYTON Hewitt's Wimbledon juggernaut gained momentum last night with a runaway victory over Spaniard Albert Montanes.

Seemingly destined for another protracted test at the All England Club, Hewitt surged clear impressively after a tight start to prevail 7-6 (7-4) 6-0 6-2.

The 2002 Wimbledon champion took 53 minutes to pocket the first set.He added the next two in 58 minutes and nourished his game with much-needed confidence ahead of a clash tomorrow with Chilean 15th seed Fernando Gonzalez or Italian Simone Bolelli.

Showing few signs of the left hip soreness which has blighted his season, Hewitt mauled 69th-ranked Montanes over the closing two sets. The Adelaide right-hander was worried about his capacity to recover after a sapping five-set first-rounder against Dutch teenager Robin Haase,

Trapped in a difficult section of the draw - Roger Federer is seeded to be his fourth-round opponent - Hewitt was ruthless and clinical against Montanes, And his delight on winning was obvious as he rose to the acclamation of small but rowdy quarter of Australian supporters. Hewitt edged ahead in the tiebreak despite being angered by a dubious line call.

"He's (linesman) called it before it's even frigging bounced," Hewitt said of his forehand which had been called wide. It didn't matter overly as Hewitt overpowered the Spaniard in the tiebreak to move ahead.

After an early arm wrestle in the second set, Hewitt's class again told as he broke Montanes serve. Soon after, it was a rout. Hewitt bounded to a huge lead as Montanes struggled in the heat with the Australian's tenacity.

The baseliner claimed eight games in a row until the third game of the third set when Montanes eventually got back on the scoreboard. By then, it was far too late against one of the sport's best front-runners.

With 18 winners, a mere 15 unforced errors, nine aces and no double faults, Hewitt was elated with his performance.The former world champion faces the prospect of surgery on tears in his left capsule.

The injury is hampering his mobility but, after 111 minutes of battle last night, he walked off court with a noticeable spring in his step.

June 23

Lleyton Hewitt needed all his fighting spirit to defeat gutsy Dutchman Robin Haase in a five-set cracker that gave the 2002 champion a real test in the first round, before the Australian took it 6-7(4-7), 6-3, 6-3, 6-7(1-7), 6-2.

Haase, making his Wimbledon debut, matched the Australian all the way, putting the pressure on with his serve and his reach and his ability to cover the court at pace, and grabbed the first set on a tie-break.

Hewitt was able to call on his considerable experience of Wimbledon to pull himself back into the match by taking the second and third sets. At the end of the third set Haase called the trainer to the court for attention to both feet.

But Haase was not ready to be counted out. After another tight set, he won the fourth set tie-break for the loss of only one point and began to look as if he could take control of the match.

But he barely got a chance. Hewitt raced to a 4-1 lead and showed his determination not to let Haase regain a foothold in the match and when the Dutchman missed a volley on Hewitt's second match, it sealed the match for the Australian.

It meant that Hewitt further improved his record in Wimbledon five-set matches. This was his fifth and he's now won four of them.

"If I get into a fifth set I'm feeling pretty confident," he said. "Obviously I was disappointed that I lost the fourth set because I felt like I had the whole momentum in the fourth set. I just wasn't quite able to get those little chances or take those chances.

"That's the good thing about five sets out there. The fifth set is an advantage set. Even though he played a couple of great sets where I couldn't break his serve, I was still able to get through."

Hewitt said he expected a different sort of match from his second round opponent, Spain’s Albert Montanes.

"On grass he doesn't have the biggest serve. He's not going to serve me off the court like this guy could potentially today. He's got a sneaky sort of slice serve out there and then a pretty good kick second serve, but you're always going to have a shot at it.

"The toughest thing, he's a clay court specialist. He's going to have a good forehand and he moves well. But he's not going to feel that comfortable on grass, which is a good thing."

June 20

Lleyton Hewitt has been handed a tough draw at Wimbledon, facing Robin Haase in the first round on his way to a potential fourth round clash with World No.1 Roger Federer.

The South Australian starts his campaign against Dutch world No.62 Haase before a potential match up between Spain's Albert Montanes or Carlos Belocq from Argentina.

Should he make it through a third-round tie with Chilean Fernando Gonzalez, Hewitt could be up against Federer, who despite being comprehensively beaten by Rafael Nadal in the French Open final, tends to be at his best on Wimbledon's grassy courts.

Federer, seeking his sixth straight title, will face Dominik Hrbaty of Slovakia in his first round.

Hrbaty, 30, is ranked 272nd in the world and has never reached beyond the third round at the All England Club.

Second seed Nadal has been drawn against world No.123 Andreas Beck of Germany, while Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic of Serbia also has a German opponent in Michael Berrer, the world No. 83.

Hewitt, Federer and Djokovic are all in the top half of the draw and could be figuring in a semi-final encounter during the tournament's second week.

The only other Australian in the men's singles, Chris Guccione, is also facing a tough draw, lining up against in-form Frenchman Gael Monfils.

Monfils, however, should go into the match against Guccione in a confident frame of mind, having beaten the big-serving world No.79 this week at the Nottingham Open.

Australia's top-ranked woman, Casey Dellacqua, was drawn against Swiss twelfth seed Patty Schnyder for her opening round, with the Western Australian in line for a possible clash with compatriot Samantha Stosur in the third round, should they both make it that far.

Stosur, may have slipped to 157 on the world rankings following a long battle with illness, but she has earned a wildcard place in the All England tournament and will face World No.145 Ioana Raluca Olaru of Romania in the first round.

If she can beat Olaru a battle with Czech No.18 seed Nicole Vaidisova is on the cards in round two.

Women's World No.1 Ana Ivanovic, meanwhile, plays Paraguayan woman Rossana De Los Rios in her first round encounter while Ivanovic's Serbian rival, Jelena Jankovic is due to face Ukrainian Olga Savchuk.

June 18

Former champion Lleyton Hewitt has been made the 20th seed for Wimbledon with few other surprises as Roger Federer and Ana Ivanovic were given the top seeds.

The All England Club announced seedings that did not stray far from the current world rankings as it prepares for the start of the tournament on Monday.

Hewitt, who moved up three places to 27th in the world following his quarter-final appearance at the warm-up event at Queens, was the main beneficiary of Wimbledon's policy of seeding according not only to rankings but also previous grasscourt credentials.

Federer, who is aiming for his sixth straight Wimbledon title, is followed by world No.2 Rafael Nadal - the losing finalist at SW19 in each of the last two years - and third-ranked Novak Djokovic.

The seedings continue to stick rigidly to the world rankings with Nikolay Davydenko seeded fourth, David Ferrer fifth, Andy Roddick sixth and David Nalbandian seventh.

The first deviation comes as No.8, with world No.9 Richard Gasquet seeded ahead of James Blake. Marcos Baghdatis, ranked 25th in the world, completes the top 10 seeds.

On the women's side, the seedings precisely mirror the world rankings all the way down to No.20, with Ivanovic, Jelena Jankovic, Maria Sharapova, Svetlana Kuznetsova and Elena Dementieva making up the top five.

Serena and Venus Williams, Anna Chakvetadze, Dinara Safina and Daniela Hantuchova complete the top 10.

June 13

Lleyton Hewitt's run at the Queen's Club tournament is over, after a straight-sets defeat by Novak Djokovic in the quarter-finals.

Djokovic had a superior service game and out-played Hewitt win 6-2 6-2 in one hour and 12 minutes.

'He served well on the big points,' Hewitt said.

'I gave him too many looks at second serves. I got off to a slow start as well and didn't take it to him probably as much as I could have, I think, early in the first set.'

'He's as good a ball-striker as there is around right at the moment and when you let him dictate, he's a very good player.'

The 21-year-old Serb broke Hewitt in the opening game of the match and again in the fifth for a 4-1 lead.

In the second set, Djokovic broke Hewitt in the third game.

There was a glimmer of hope for the Australian in a marathon sixth game, but Djokovic managed to fight off a total of three break points and finally held serve after holding advantage five times.

Hewitt will now turn his attention back to the practice court for Wimbledon starting on June 23rd.

June 12

Australia's Lleyton Hewitt has reached the quarter-finals of the ATP event at The Queen's Club in London with a straight-sets victory over Paul-Henri Mathieu.

Hewitt, the 11th seed, overcame a poor start to beat the No.7-seeded Frenchman 6-4 6-4 in their third-round match.

"He always comes out firing, every time I've played him in the past," Hewitt said.

"It was kind of like weathering the storm out there a little bit, but I knew I was going to get my opportunities.

"That's why he's not top five, top ten in the world, nine times out of ten, he can't keep that standard up for a whole match."

World No.17 Mathieu raced to a 3-0 lead, but Hewitt emerged for the sixth game in a fired-up mood and blew his opponent away when he broke him to love.

Hewitt, ranked 30th, did not concede a point on his next service game either and broke Mathieu again in the ninth game to earn the right to serve for the set.

In the opening game of the second set, the Australian broke Mathieu again with a blistering cross-court backhand and he saved a break in the next game, despite struggling with his serve.

Mathieu fought off another break on match point, but he was just prolonging the inevitable.

In the following game, Hewitt sent down three impressive serves to claim as many match points, converting the first with an ace.

Four-time Queen's champion Hewitt has won all three of his matches in straight sets this year at his traditional warm-up tournament for Wimbledon starting on June 23.

"Today I felt like from 4-1 down, I was able to turn it around," Hewitt said.

"It was a pretty good result ... it was a matter of just hanging in there and trying to get my serve on track, get that first break back, then try and build from there."

Hewitt will play Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic in the quarters.

June 11

LLEYTON Hewitt advanced to the third round of the Queen's Club tournament in London with a comfortable victory over Belgian wildcard Xavier Malisse today.

He is the only Australian left in the singles draw after Chris Guccione lost his second-round match.

Hewitt, the No. 11 seed, advanced to the third round with a comfortable 6-3 6-2 win over Belgian wildcard Xavier Malisse.

"It was a pretty good match overall,'' Hewitt said.

"I didn't lose my serve against a good returner out there who works the ball around extremely well.

"It was good to get up an early break, though, in both sets, which was important.''

Hewitt fought off two break points when serving for the match, one with an unreturnable serve and the next with a clever lob over Malisse's head.

The Australian converted his first match point when Malisse netted a backhand.

Hewitt, whose next opponent is French No.7 seed Paul-Henri Mathieu, was pleased with his form going from clay to grass.

"You get more and more comfortable with each match, for sure,'' he said.

"I felt like as soon as I got here, and even with all the changes, I was still hitting the ball well in practice sets, but you've got to go out there and do it in match situations, which is so much different.

"For me, that's been a huge bonus, to get these couple of matches under my belt, and another one tomorrow.''

Hewitt and Guccione lost a hard-fought second-round doubles match against sixth-seeded pair Max Mirnyi of Belarus and Briton Jamie Murray, who won 6-7 (6-8) 7-6 (7-5) 10-5.

June 9

All three Australians have made it through to the second round of the ATP event at The Queen's Club in London. Lleyton Hewitt secured a straight-sets win on Monday over British wildcard Joshua Goodall in the first round, while Chris Guccione had a hard-fought victory over Yen-Hsun Lu of Taiwan.

Australian qualifier Joseph Sirianni easily accounted for another British wildcard, Alex Bogdanovic.

Hewitt, seeded 11th, made a flawless start to his bid for a record fifth Queen's title with a comfortable 6-4 6-4 victory over Goodall."It's always a little bit tough first match on grass," Hewitt said of his traditional warm-up for Wimbledon, which starts on June 23.

"You've just got to be careful with your footing a little bit. "It's still different when you get in your first match on a different surface, but that was a good knock because I felt like I served smartly throughout the match, hit my spots well when I needed to.

"On my returns, I felt like I was putting a lot more pressure on him than he was on my service games."

Hewitt's next opponent will be one of two wildcards, Daniel Evans of Britain or Belgium's Xavier Malisse.

Lu made Guccione work for his 6-4 6-7 (2-7) 7-5 win, saving a handful of match points before the 22-year-old from Melbourne finally converted a break point to claim victory. Guccione was happy with his performance.

"It was a tight last game there, it was good to get away with that one," Guccione said."He's a good player ... his game sort of suits mine a little bit, he's got really good returns, pretty good serve, hits the ball very flat and hard to the corner, tries to make you work for it.

"I think he's a great player."

Guccione's next opponent at Queen's is either Edouard Roger-Vasselin of France or 15th-seeded American Mardy Fish.

Sirianni cruised to a 6-3 6-3 victory after taking a commanding 4-1 lead in the first set. The 33-year-old from Melbourne, who is ranked 161, broke No.243 Bogdanovic on the first of two match points to set up a meeting with eighth-seeded Croat Ivo Karlovic, who had a bye into the second round. Sirianni believed he was helped by making it through a tough series of qualifiers. "It's always a tough challenge to get through the first round of a main-draw event and I'm very pleased," he said. "I'd played three tough matches going in there and I was match confident and my fitness is fantastic at the moment."

June 7

LLEYTON Hewitt meets British wildcard Josh Goodall in the first round of this week's ATP event at The Queen's Club in London.

Four-time champion Hewitt, the No.11 seed, is set to open his grass-court campaign in the lead-up to Wimbledon after reaching the third round of the French Open, where he lost to clay-court specialist David Ferrer.

Hewitt and the No.274-ranked Goodall have never played against each other.

The winner will meet one of two wildcard entrants, Dan Evans of Britain or Belgium's Xavier Malisse, in the second round.

A likely clash with Australian Open champion and French Open semi-finalist Novak Djokovic, who is the No.2 seed at Queen's, looms in the fourth round.

The other Australian in the draw, Chris Guccione, will play Yen-Hsun Lu in the first round.

The duo are 1-1 head-to-head after Guccione beat Lu in Australia's 4-1 win over Taiwan in their Davis Cup Asia-Oceania first round tie in February.

Lu beat Guccione in Memphis in 2007, also on hard court.

June 1

Australia's Lleyton Hewitt faces a period of intense rehabilitation on his injured hip in a bid to be fit for Wimbledon.

Hewitt will turn his attention to the grass after a exiting the French Open with a gritty performance against clay court specialist David Ferrer.

In a close match, the Spanish fifth seed prevailed 6-2 3-6 3-6 6-3 6-4 over three hours and 35 minutes at Roland Garros.

Hewitt took a medical time out before the fourth set to have heat cream applied to the injury which until this tournament had kept him sidelined for six weeks.

Asked where he stood physically heading into the grass-court season, Hewitt said: "I'm not really sure at the moment, depends how it pulls up.

"It was pretty sore the third, fourth, and fifth sets there, it's still not 100 per cent.

"I'll try to do everything I can to get as close to 100 per cent for Wimbledon ... I've still got to recover and get a bit of rehab and try and get the hip right before then."

Hewitt plans to play Queen's, starting on June 9, before Wimbledon, which begins on June 23.

Ferrer had conceded just one game in his second-round match against Frenchman Fabrice Santoro.

But Hewitt, the 25th seed, proved a much tougher opponent.

In the first set, he never recovered after Ferrer took a 3-0 lead.

The Spaniard seemed to have a response for everything Hewitt tried until the Australian secured an important break in the fifth game of the second set, heralded by one of his trademark shouts of "C'mon!".

When Hewitt broke him again and then held serve to win the second set, it was clear Ferrer had a match on his hands.

After going down a break early in the third set, Hewitt restored parity at 3-3 with a clever lob to break back and he went on to claim a 2-1 advantage.

In the fourth set, Ferrer assumed control with a 4-1 lead, forcing the decider with an ace.

Ferrer finally converted his third break point of an incredibly hard-fought ninth game when Hewitt netted a backhand and he set up match point with an ace, claiming victory when Hewitt hit a backhand wide.

In other matches, Australia's Casey Dellacqua, who exited the women's singles in the third round, joined Italian Francesca Schiavone to beat Nadia Petrova of Russia and Patty Schnyder of Switzerland in the first round of the doubles.

Samantha Stosur and American partner Lisa Raymond progressed to the third round with a straight-sets win over French duo Julie Coin and Violette Huck.

In the men's doubles, top-seeded Americans Bob and Mike Bryan ousted Paul Hanley and fellow Australian Todd Perry in the second round.

May 31

Australia's Lleyton Hewitt bowed out of the French Open today, losing to fifth seed David Ferrer after a dogged performance in the third round.

The Spanish clay court specialist took three hours and 35 minutes to win 6-2 3-6 3-6 6-3 6-4.

In the first set, 25th-seeded Hewitt never recovered after Ferrer took a 3-0 lead.

The Australian won his next service game to love, hinting at a possible fight-back but Ferrer remained supremely confident, converting his second break point when Hewitt sent a forehand long for a 1-0 lead.

Ferrer seemed to have a response for everything Hewitt tried until the Australian secured an important break in the fifth game of the second set, heralded by one of his trademark shouts of ``C'mon!''.

Even then, the Spaniard made his opponent work to hold serve in the next game.

But this time it was Hewitt who kept his nerve while Ferrer lost his, launching a verbal tirade at himself which prompted a warning as he stared down a break.

The Australian converted when Ferrer sent a forehand wide and Hewitt broke his opponent again two games later to claim the set and signal to the Spaniard he had a match on his hands.

After going down a break early in the third set, Hewitt restored parity at 3-3 with a clever lob to break back.

Some excellent shots down the line secured another break for Hewitt in the eighth game, earning him the right to serve for the set.

He eventually claimed a 2-1 lead on his third set point when Ferrer's smash landed just beyond the baseline.

Hewitt took a medical time out before the fourth set but returned a short time later.

Ferrer assumed control with a 4-1 lead, forcing the decider with an ace.

AAP

May 30

LLEYTON Hewitt and Chris Guccione lost their first-round doubles match at the French Open today.

The Australians bowed out to Spanish duo Marcel Granollers and Santiago Ventura 6-4 7-5 in one hour and 23 minutes at Roland Garros.

Hewitt, who is seeded 25th in the singles, meets No.5 seed David Ferrer of Spain in the third round tomorrow.

Guccione lost in the opening singles round to French qualifier Nicolas Devilder.

May 29

Australia's only remaining male competitor, Lleyton Hewitt, gave his sore hip yet another quick work-out as he motored to a 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 win over American Mardy Fish in their second round clash at the French Open overnight.

Hewitt had been sidelined during the entire clay court season in the run-up to Roland Garros but did not feel any ill effects as he battered Fish in a shade over two hours.

The former world number one said the straight-set victory eased the burden on his hip.

"[It is] very important. It's a lot easier with the hip," he said.

"I wasn't 100 per cent sure how it was going to hold up going into that first match. It's been better. Come Saturday, I'm going to have to step up another notch."

The 25th seed has now reached the last 32 by dropping just 19 games in his two matches to date but his run of easy rides at the tournament is unlikely to last much longer.

Next up for the former US Open and Wimbledon champion will be Spanish fifth seed David Ferrer, who lost only one game in a rout of Frenchman Fabrice Santoro.

Hewitt is expecting to be tested to his limits against the in-form Ferrer.

"He's one of the world's best clay court players out there," Hewitt said.

"He's had good preparation leading into the French and I'm definitely going to have to step up, and it's going to test me."

May 28

PARIS: Lleyton Hewitt began his French Open campaign with a commanding win over world No.43 Nicolas Mahut of France on Wednesday.

Hewitt, the No.25 seed, showed no sign of the hip injury that threatened to prevent him playing at Roland Garros when he won the first-round match 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 in two hours.

Hewitt made inroads when he converted the second of two break points for a 5-4 lead in the first set. He then handed Mahut two break points with a double fault on his own serve but managed to save both and clinch the set.

The Frenchman averted a scare in the opening game of the second set, saving a break point, but Hewitt replied by converting the second of two break points in the fifth game when his opponent sent a forehand wide.

Hewitt battled to hold serve immediately afterwards but took control in the very next game with a smash to claim his second consecutive break. Serving for the set, the Australian won the next game to love.

Another Hewitt double fault gave Mahut two break points in the fourth, and the Frenchman claimed the first for a 3-1 lead.

Hewitt broke back three games later, however, and then held serve to restore parity at 4-4 before claiming another break and the right to serve for the match.

He converted his first match point with an ace.

It was Hewitt's first competitive match since the Davis Cup win over Thailand in April and his first appearance on the ATP tour since the Miami Masters in late March.

Meanwhile, Australian Peter Luczak made a first-round exit with a straight-sets loss to Jurgen Melzer of Austria 3-6, 2-6, 4-6 in one hour and 53 minutes.

The 114th-ranked Luczak started comfortably but the Austrian, who is ranked 17 places higher, made the decisive break of the opening set in the eighth game.

Melzer made light work of the second set, cruising to 4-0 lead and it was a similar story in the third, with the Austrian claiming the early ascendancy.

Luczak denied him victory with a break in the eighth game, but Melzer won his next service game to love, claiming the match when the Australian hit his return into the net.

AAP

May 27

Rain delay in Paris - Lleytons match for Tuesday cancelled. Re-scheduled for Wednesday 1st match, weather permitting.

match analysis

BACKGROUND

H- A hip injury has kept Hewitt out of the game since April and almost forced him to withdraw from the French Open. He dropped only one game in the last match he played - a second round Davis Cup tie against Thailand. “It should be all right even if I’m also thinking about Wimbledon,” says the former world number one. Hewitt, who is now being coached by Tony Roche, has dropped to No26 in the rankings but hopes to get his season back on track in Paris. He reached the fourth round here last year before going out to Rafael Nadal.

M- As a Frenchman, Roland Garros provides a great opportunity for Mahut to showcase his game. However, the man from Angers has yet to win a match in six attempts. Six first round defeats which can be explained by Mahut’s serve and volley game which is not particularly well suited to clay. It will be a shock if he manages to upset Hewitt.

CURRENT FORM

H- It is difficult to judge Hewitt’s current form as he is just back from injury. He appears to have fully recovered, however, his lack of match practice could prove a factor.

M - Mahut comes into the tournament in full fitness but with just one win from four clay-court tournaments - against the 412-ranked Italian, Fabbiani – there is little to be excited about.

STRENGTH

H- At his peak, Hewitt was famed for his mental toughness and solidity on the baseline. He has lost some of his regularity from the back of the court but his fighting spirit and desire to win are as strong as ever.

M - Mahut has the perfect game… for grass. A big server with a great return, he’s also one of the best volleyers on the tour but his backhand is a bit too weak to withstand long rallies from the baseline.

TACTICS

H - The outcome of the match depends on Hewitt’s fitness. If he’s at 100%, the match should be his for the taking but the longer it lasts, the more his lack of recent match-play will work against him.

M - Mahut has no choice. If he wants to finally win a match at Roland Garros he has to take risks and make sure that he gets a maximum of first serves in. The crowd should be on behind him.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Hewitt won their only previous encounter 6-3 6-4 in Sydney earlier this year.

May 24

LLEYTON Hewitt is on a collision course with claycourt specialist David Ferrer if, as is expected, the Australian's troublesome hip injury allows him to play in the French Open.

After last night's draw at Roland Garros, the 26th-ranked Hewitt is likely to come up against the No. 5 seed from Spain in the third round.

After a couple of days training on the clay in Paris, No. 25 seed Hewitt remains confident of taking part in the tournament, where he drew Frenchman Nicolas Mahut in the first round, a day after the pair practised together.

"I should be fine to play," Hewitt said on the French Open website after his workout with Mahut on Thursday under the watchful eye of coach Tony Roche.

If he makes it through the opener, he will face either Augustin Calleri of Argentina or American Mardy Fish in the second round.

Hewitt has not played a competitive match since the Davis Cup win over Thailand last month and will wait as long as possible before confirming whether he will start in the Open, starting tomorrow.

The 27-year-old hasn't played on the ATP tour since the Miami Masters in late March and has seen his ranking slip to No. 26.

He reached the quarter-finals of last year's French Open, losing to Rafael Nadal, who is chasing his fourth consecutive title.

Fellow Australian Chris Guccione drew a qualifier in the first round but is almost certain to meet Nadal in the second after the world No. 2 drew a qualifier first-up.

Peter Luczak, who dropped out of the ATP event in Casablanca this week with a hamstring injury, is up against Austrian Juergen Melzer first, while Australian wildcard entrant Robert Smeets faces 11th-seeded Czech Tomas Berdych.

Smeets, 22, who was knocked out in the first round of this year's Australian Open by David Nalbandian, knows better than to worry about draws or rounds this early in his career.

"I set myself goals, what I'd like to do," Smeets said. "Not as in how I go in the tournament, it's more as in what I have to do out there … trying to make the best out of it."

The Dutch-born Queenslander bowed out in qualifying in Casablanca this week but has worked hard and is happy with his form. He was impressed by the red clay of Roland Garros despite the fact that, like most Australians, it is not his favourite surface.

"I started practising about a month ago on the clay. It's been really nice, especially these courts," he said. "These courts are a lot better than I've been practising on, so I'm really looking forward to it."

Frenchman Sebastien Grosjean pulled out of the French Open on Friday with a right shoulder injury.

"I've been struggling with a shoulder injury for the past three months," Grosjean said. "The doctor did not give me the green light to serve at 100%. I prefer to focus on the grasscourt season."

Grosjean, a semi-finalist at Roland-Garros in 2001, will be replaced in the main draw by a lucky loser.

In the women's draw, Australia's Casey Dellacqua drew home favourite Marion Bartoli. The ninth-seeded Frenchwoman, who was runner-up at Wimbledon last year, has been troubled by a wrist injury.

Wildcard Samantha Stosur drew No. 17 seed Shahar Peer of Israel in the first round.

May 19

LLEYTON HEWITT is optimistic of playing next week's French Open despite a debilitating hip injury.

Hewitt has been battling a tendon tear in his hip that causes his discomfort and forced his withdrawl from the circuit after the Miami Masters in late March.

On his website today, Hewitt said he had every intention of playing the French Open.

“I thought it best to go to Paris and start my originally-planned preparation in the hope that the hip will be OK for me to compete,” he said.

“I am being optimistic about playing the French and also the grasscourt season, especially Wimbledon.”

He last played five weeks ago for Australia at the Davis Cup qualifying tie against Thailand in Townsville.

“In retrospect he probably shouldn't have played but you know what Lleyton is like when it comes to representing his country,” his manager David Drysdale told The Australian today.

“We've just got to hope it doesn't get worse, that's all.”

Hewitt, his coach Tony Roche, wife Bec and daughter Mia, are now arranging flights to Paris so that the 27-year-old tw0-time Grand Slam champion can get five or six days practice in on the red clay surface.

The Hewitt camp can ask tournament officials at Roland Garros to give him a late start for next Tuesday.

His ranking has dropped to No.26 on the ATP computer since he has only played four tournaments since the Australian Open, where he lost to eventual champion Novak Djokovic in the fourth round.

But that means Hewitt will be seeded for the French Open.

I f his hip holds up with intense physio and massage in between matches, Hewitt wants to play at Queen's _ the grass exhibition tournament in London the week before Wimbledon, which he has won four times _ and then Wimbledon.

Hewitt has not missed a European season for the past nine years.

He reached the fourth roun d, or final 16, in both Paris and Wimbledon last year.

May 15

HEWITT DECISION AT THE END OF THE WEEK

A frustrated Lleyton Hewitt won’t know for a few more days whether or not a hip injury will force him out of the French Open and possibly even Wimbledon.

A worst case scenario on Australia’s top player’s hip injury would be that it kept him out of the entire grass court season.

Hewitt has been consulting daily with the doctor for the Optus Australian Davis Cup team, Dr David Brooks, and also saw a specialist at North Shore Private Hospital today for some more tests.

The former world number one is hopeful of a return to the tour sooner rather than later.

“The hip is starting to feel a little better but I’m yet to fully test it out on court,” Hewitt said this afternoon.

“The specialist did a couple more tests today but the results won’t be back for a few days. Once I get those I can make a decision on the French Open and the grass court season.”

After a strong showing during the 2007 clay court season and last year’s French Open, Hewitt was very much looking forward to returning to the European clay. Instead, the hip injury has sidelined him for the last month.

“He is doing everything in his power to compete in both Grand Slam tournaments,” Hewitt’s manager David Drysdale said.

“Grand Slams are well and truly the highlight of a tennis player’s year, particularly an athlete as competitive as Lleyton. He hasn’t given up on them, but is just frustrated that he can’t be already out there competing and preparing,” he explained.

Once he gets the results of the latest medical tests at the end of the week, Hewitt is expected to make a decision on a date for his return to the tour.

May 7

Lleyton's hip continues to trouble him. therefore he has withdrawn from Hamburg Masters which commences May 12. No word as yet as to when he will return to competition.

May 1

Lleyton has withdrawn from Rome Masters because of his hip injury which hasn't responded to treatment as well as he hoped. He will endeavour to play Hamburg May 12

April 28

Lleyton Hewitt will return to the practice court with coach Tony Roche today and depart for the Rome Masters later this week, his manager, David Drysdale, said the Australian's recuperation from a hip injury had left him "a little bit underdone" for the early stages of the claycourt season.

Hewitt has been limited to occasional gym workouts since leading Australia to a 5-0 Davis Cup win over Thailand in Townsville two weeks ago, and poor weather in Sydney had limited outdoor preparations. After Rome, Hewitt will attempt to defend the 225 rankings points earned through reaching the semi-final of last year's Hamburg Masters, before taking a week off to prepare for the French Open in May.

April 18

Lleyton, a champ of the kids, too
GIVEN all the adverse publicity he has got over the years, it's a great credit to Lleyton Hewitt that we learn not only is he a champion of the underprivileged but goes about it without a hint of fanfare, preferring it goes completely unrecognised in the press. And a perfect example of that happened during the Davis Cup tie in Townsville last weekend when he flew a young cystic fibrosis sufferer from his home in the outer Melbourne suburb of Lysterfield to Queensland to spend the entire weekend with the team, paying for all his expenses including air tickets and five-star accommodation at the team's hotel. "It's something he does a lot of but prefers to keep it quiet," Hewitt's manager David Drysdale said yesterday. And what a weekend it was for 15-year-old Murray Brown and his brother Geoff whom Hewitt also treated to a trip to remember. Not only did the boys have breakfast every morning with Hewitt and sat courtside with him and other team members for every day of the tournament but, at the champ's insistence, Murray also got to toss the coin on the first day. And, for good measure, when it was over he sent him home with a signed hat, playing top, and one of his racquets. Said Drysdale: "You only have to have a look at Lleyton's website to see all the good things for people with special needs and his contribution to the Special Olympics in America. In the same tournament in Townsville a cerebral palsy sufferer was driven a long way just to see Lleyton play and Lleyton spent 15 minutes talking to him."

April 16

AUSTRALIA's quest to return to the Davis Cup's World Group was last night dealt a massive body blow when it was drawn to face Chile away in September's playoffs.

John Fitzgerald's public wish for better luck in cup draws was ignored by the tennis gods when the third seed was assigned to battle the South Americans. Chile, led by Australian Open runner-up Fernando Gonzalez and Olympic gold medallist Nicolas Massu, was among three unseeded potential horror draws. Belgium landed Roger Federer's Switzerland, while Austria must contend with the Andy Murray-led Great Britain.

But Chile on clay is about as forbidding as it gets. The South Americans will soon notify the International Tennis Federation of its choice of venue and surface, although a slow claycourt is certain.

If Australia fails to win the September 19-21 tie, the second most successful cup nation in history will be forced to cool its heels in zonal competition for another season. The Australians are on a crusade for redemption after losing to Novak Djokovic's Serbia in September's playoffs.

Gonzalez, ranked 14th, is Chile's only representative in the top 100. But he is a fearsome, if erratic, competitor. He will be backed by Massu, ranked 108th, and Paul Capdeville (115th).

Lleyton Hewitt will be again asked to bear the brunt of Australia's workload. Ranked 20th, Hewitt will be supported by Chris Guccione (67), claycourter Peter Luczak (83) and doubles specialist Paul Hanley.

April 14

Already resigned to missing the Monte Carlo Masters, which starts on April 21, Hewitt hopes to resume in the Rome Masters from May 5. If all goes to plan, he would then contest the Hamburg Masters, French Open, Queen's Club in London, Wimbledon, Toronto Masters, Cincinnati Masters, the Olympics and US Open before the September 19-21 World Group playoff.

"At this stage (I'm) probably planning on starting in Rome, as long as I can get my body right," Hewitt said yesterday. "At the moment, I'm not really focused on the tournaments coming up.

"It's more getting my body right and hopefully being able to get some hitting time on clay before I've got to play the tournaments over there." Ranked 21st in the world, Hewitt will be under pressure to stay in the top 25 unless he performs strongly in Rome, Hamburg and Paris.

He has dropped the Poertschach event in Austria, where he was a semi-finalist last year, from his schedule. "I actually feel like the last couple of years have been a couple of my best years on clay," Hewitt said.

"You keep learning, no matter how many times you go around. I think clay when you first come on - being an Australian, we haven't really grown up on it - it's a totally different style of play. "Last year in Hamburg, I can't play much better than that on a tennis court, I don't think, no matter what surface it's on. "I probably should have beaten Rafael Nadal in the semis there in Hamburg, and then the French it's taken Nadal the last two years to beat me. "So if I keep putting myself in a position, maybe I'll get on the other side of the draw as him and play him a little bit later in the tournament."

April 13

The Optus Australian Davis Cup team completed a clean sweep of Thailand winning both reverse singles matches in the final day of its Asia–Oceania Zone Group One second round tie in Townsville.

Australia must now wait until Thursday’s Davis Cup by BNP Paribas draw to learn its opponent in the World Group play-off in September. A win in September will return Australia to the World Group comprising the top 16 Davis Cup nations.

Peter Luczak improved his Davis Cup career record to 2-4 eventually overpowering Thai number one player Danai Udomchoke 6-4 5-7 6-4 in one hour 52 minutes.

“I love playing Davis Cup and I love playing in front of a home crowd,” Luczak said, graciously adding he thought teammate Chris Guccione might have tired his opponent out in their five-set marathon two days earlier.

Chris Guccione then reeled off 24 aces on his way to a 68 minute minute final rubber victory over Weerpat Doakmaiklee 6-2 7-6(1). Guccione is now 7-4 in Davis Cup.

The entire Optus Australian Davis Cup team then joined Guccione on court to thank the Townsville crowd for its tremendous support.

“We love playing at home and we have been absolutely thrilled with the hospitality and support from the people of Townsville,” Optus Davis Cup captain John Fitzgerald said later also thanking the Thailand team for the gracious manner in which they played the tie.

Australia v Thailand results
Chris Guccione (AUS) d Danai Udomchoke (THA) 6-7(3) 7-6(7) 4-6 7-6(6) 7-5
Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) d Kirati Siributwong (THA) 6-0 6-0 6-1
Paul Hanley/Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) d Weerapat Doakmaiklee/Kirati Siributwong (THA) 6-3 6-1 6-0
Peter Luczak (AUS) d Danaii Udomchoke (THA) 6-4 5-7 6-4
Chris Guccione (AUS) d Weerapat Doakmaiklee (THA) 6-2 7-6(1)

April 12

A straight-sets victory in today's doubles rubber has given Australia an unbeatable lead over Thailand in the Davis Cup tie in Townsville.

Lleyton Hewitt and Paul Hanley outclassed Weerapat Doakmaiklee and Kirati Siributwong 6-3 6-1 6-0 to put Australia 3-0 up in the Asia–Oceania group second-round tie.

Australia can now look forward to a play-off in September for the right to re-enter the competition's elite 16-nation World Group in 2009.

The draw for the play-offs will be conducted early next week and the most desirable result for Australia would be a home tie against either Peru, the Netherlands, Israel, Brazil, Chile or Colombia.

The worst-case scenario would be a home fixture against Roger Federer's Switzerland, although an away tie against India or Andy Murray's Great Britain aren't exactly appealing either.

It could have been far worse, though.

Currently ranked 10th in the world, Australia are guaranteed a seeding – possibly No.1 – for the play-offs, meaning John Fitzgerald's team will at least be spared another showdown with Serbia.

It was the Novak Djokovic-inspired Serbs who sent 28-times champions Australia packing from the World Group for only the second time with a 4-1 humbling in Belgrade last September.

Australia entered day two against Thailand with a 2-0 advantage following singles wins on Friday for Hewitt over Siributwong, and Chris Guccione over Danai Udomchoke, and were keen to make swift work of the doubles.

And they were never troubled, dropping just four games, with Hewitt saying it was a relief to be a step closer to a return to the World Group.

"These are never easy matches. Obviously we were the favourites coming into the tie but you still have to go out there and get the job done," Hewitt said.

"And now it's a matter of winning the World Group play-off in September."

April 11

Australia lead Thailand 2-0

Chris Guccione and Lleyton Hewitt have given Australia a commanding 2-0 advantage with starkly contrasting singles victories on day one of the Davis Cup playoff with Thailand in Townsville.

Guccione saved three successive match points before squeezing out an epic 6-7(3) 7-6(6) 4-6 7-6(6) 7-5 win over Thai No.1 Danai Udomchoke before Hewitt crushed Cup novice Kirati Siributwong 6-0 6-0 6-1 in barely an hour.

Hewitt and Paul Hanley will have the opportunity to clinch the best-of-five-match Asia–Oceania zone second-round tie in tomorrow's doubles against Weerapat Doakmaiklee and untried teenager Perakiat Siriluethaiwattana.

Doubles success would thrust Australia into a play-off in September for re-entry to the elite 16-nation World Group next year.

While Hewitt's victory over the 978th-ranked Siributwong was little more than a training drill for the former world No.1, Guccione fought doggedly for three hours and 39 minutes to subdue Udomchoke

April 10

Davis Cup draw

Friday 11 April

Start 11.00 am

Rubber 1 - singles

Chris Guccione (AUS)

Danai Udomchoke (THA)

11.00 am

Rubber 2 - singles

Lleyton Hewitt (AUS)

Kirati Siributwong (THA)

Following first rubber

Saturday 12 April

Start 2.00pm

Rubber 3 - doubles

Paul Hanley/Lleyton Hewitt (AUS)

Perakiat Siriluethaiwattana/ Weerapat Doakmaiklee (THA)

2.00 pm

Sunday 13 April

Start 11.00 am

Rubber 4 - singles

Lleyton Hewitt (AUS)

Danai Udomchoke (THA)

11.00 am

Rubber 5 - singles

Chris Guccione (AUS)

Kirati Siributwong (THA)

Following fourth rubber

April 4

SCANS yesterday showed Lleyton Hewitt could have tendinitis and a hip tendon tear - or a combination of both - but he is determined to lead Australia in its Davis Cup tie against Thailand in Townsville next week.

World No. 22 Hewitt had MRI scans on his sore left hip yesterday and was advised by a surgeon to rest and continue treatment.

But Hewitt has not given up playing against Thailand.

"I am extremely determined to play for my country in Townsville and will be doing everything in my power to be as close to 100 per cent physically by Friday," Hewitt said on his website.

"This tie is important for the team, as a win would give us the opportunity to compete in a playoff to make it back in the World Group, where I believe Australia belongs."

Hewitt has suffered hip pain since losing to American Mardy Fish in Indian Wells last month.

Rest and constant treatment from Melbourne physiotherapist Ivan Gutierrez had Hewitt expecting he would be able to handle Jose Acasuso's second-round challenge at the Miami Masters on Sunday.

But the former world No. 1 struggled for full movement against the Argentine as the discomfort resurfaced, losing in straight sets.

If Australia was not involved in a Davis Cup tie next week, Hewitt would not have contemplated returning to the court.

But such is his appetite for the team's format, where he is Australia's most successful singles player, Hewitt is prepared to play through the pain barrier.

Thailand will be without its best-performed singles player, Paradorn Srichaphan, and its strongest doubles team, brothers Sanchai and Sonchat Ratiwatana.

Hewitt will travel to Queensland this weekend, giving him up to five days to prepare for the tie.

Chris Guccione, Peter Luczak and Paul Hanley are Hewitt's teammates next week, with Australian Open junior champions Brydan Klein and Bernard Tomic to serve as practice partners

March 29

Hewitt hip injury a worry for Davis Cup

Lleyton Hewitt has thrown a scare into the Australian Davis Cup camp, revealing he's suffering a hip injury which contributed to his first match exit from the Miami Masters.

Hewitt lost 6-3 7-6 (7-4) to Argentina's Jose Acasuso on Saturday and has only 12 days to recover from his hip problem before the Davis Cup Asia-Oceania zone second round tie against Thailand in Townsville.

"I just couldn't quite move properly," said Hewitt, who picked up the problem last week in Indian Wells.

"I went out there, and I tried and just couldn't quite compete the way wanted to. I suffered against it (Mardy) Fish last week, and I've been battling it ever since.

"I tried to do everything to get in shape to be ready today, but it wasn't quite there."

Hewitt's spring US adventure ended on a low note, with a 3-3 record from the Las Vegas, California and Florida tournaments.

While insisting that he didn't know exactly what the hip injury problem was, Hewitt knows he needs to get it solved.

"I was just trying to get as much treatment as possible in the last couple of days. I didn't hit yesterday to try to be right for today, but that's how it goes," he said.

"I didn't feel my footwork was great today, and that's what lost me the match, I think."

The former No.1's last multiple-title season was in 2004, since winning just one title per year. His lone 2007 trophy was in June at Queen's club in June on grass.

March 18

Hewitt was knocked out by American Mardy Fish, who beat the Australian for the first time 7-5 3-6 7-6 (7-4).

"It was close the whole way," Hewitt said. "He served well. I had a few slight chances in the third set and I wasn't really under a lot of pressure on my serve in the third set. "He played a great serving tiebreak to finish it off."

He will play Miami next week.

DAVIS CUP - Lleyton Hewitt will lead the Australian Davis Cup squad against Thailand in next month's tie in Townsville, Tennis Australia said Wednesday. Peter Luczak, at a career high of world number 69, has been recalled to the team which will play the Asia/Oceania Zone Group One second round tie on April 11 to 13.

The inclusion of 28-year-old Luczak edges out Alun Jones who was named in the team which last month beat Taiwan. Australia's Davis Cup Captain John Fitzgerald says it is still not guaranteed that Hewitt will play in the opening match.

"It depends on the week leading up, and obviously there's a fair chance he'd [Lleyton] play on the opening day, and he'd play their number two player on the opening day," he said. "Because that's the way the draw pans out but depending on the form of the other guys, we'll make a choice when we're actually there in the week leading up."

Along with world number 24 Hewitt, the team will include Chris Guccione (70) and doubles specialist Paul Hanley. The winner of the Townsville round will earn a berth in the World Group play-offs in September.

March 17

Lleyton defeated Mikhail Youzhny 7-5 6-1 in the 3rd rd.

Lleyton was a bit shakey, going down 4-2 in the first set against Mikhail Youzhny before finding his range. Hewitt, the world No.24 and back-to-back winner in 2002 and 2003, levelled the match and broke the Russian world No.13 again in the 11th game before serving out the set.Youzhny imploded in the second, eventually finishing with 44 unforced errors to hand the former world No.1 a 7-5 6-1 victory.

March 16

Contrary to predictions, Lleyton had an impressive second rd victory against Sam Querrey in his 1st match at this year's Indian Wells tournament, 6-4 6-3. He was in fine form to break his opponent to love in the 9th game and went on to serve out the set 6-4. He won the second set after breaking Querrey twice to lead 3-0. Querrey rallied to regain a break however Lleyton was always in front and won the 2nd set 6-3. He will now meet Youzny, from Russia, on Tuesday, US time.

March 15

Something has to give when streaking Sam Querrey takes on veteran Lleyton Hewitt in the second round of the Pacific Life Open on Sunday. Querrey will try to blow his opponent away with huge serves and forehands, while Hewitt will merely attempt to keep too many balls in play.

Although Sam Querrey has been on the pro tour for two years now and Lleyton Hewitt has been around for a decade, this second-round battle in Indian Wells will be the first time the two players have ever squared off head-to-head. Will Querrey’s power be too much for the Aussie to contend with, or will Hewitt frustrate the up-and-coming American by getting ball after ball back in the court?

If recent form is any indication, Hewitt could have some serious trouble in this match even though he is seeded 24th, whereas Querrey is unseeded. Other than his epic win over Baghdatis in Australia that ended after 4:30 in the morning, Hewitt has really struggled this season. In Rotterdam he got caught looking ahead to a potential second-round clash with Rafael Nadal and lost to unheralded Andreas Seppi in a third-set tiebreaker. Most recently in Las Vegas, Hewitt took out slumping Marat Safin in round one before being stunned by Julien Benneteau.

The 20-year-old Querrey, on the other hand, is playing the best tennis of his life. He is coming off his first-ever ATP title, which he captured last week at the Tennis Channel Open in Las Vegas, where Hewitt was the No. 2 seed. Querrey had to save a match point in the first round against Sebastien Grosjean, but it quickly became a lot easier. He scored impressive wins over Nicolas Kiefer, Benneteau, and Guillermo Canas before ending the run of fellow youngster Kevin Anderson in the final. Querrey surged up to No. 48 in the world rankings—just one spot away from his career-high—and he appears to be keeping up that momentum at the Pacific Life Open. He dispatched Luis Horna 7-6(5), 6-3 in the first round, firing 12 aces in the process.

At 6’5’’ and owner of a massive serve and forehand, Querrey will present significant problems for his opponent. Hewitt prefers to play against guys who cannot overpower him physically, as he makes a living off requiring his adversaries stay on the court much longer than they would like. Players who have big weapons and can end points early like Querrey have an easier time of it with Hewitt. Nonetheless, it will be far from easy for the American. Querrey must serve huge, as he usually does, and most importantly he has to pay smart tennis. If he buckles under the pressure of having to hit so many balls to win points and starts going for ill-advised winners before the opportunities are really there, Hewitt could seize the edge in this showdown.

Querrey is playing with so much confidence right now that it is hard to bet against him. This match has all the makings of a grueling three-set thriller and those are the kinds of matches that Hewitt normally pulls out, but at this point in time Querrey just has too many weapons.

March 6

Lleyton Hewitt's luck ran out in Las Vegas on Wednesday, as the second-seeded Australian crashed out of the 436,000-dollar ATP tournament here at the hands of France's Julien Benneteau.

Benneteau shocked the defending champion 6-3, 7-5 to book a quarter-final berth against American Sam Querrey.

Hewitt, 27, has dominated here in recent years. He won the title in 2000 and 2003 as well as last year, and had reached the final in five of his six appearances, including the past two years.

But Benneteau brought that run of success to a screeching halt. He broke Hewitt five times to hand him just his fourth defeat in his last 31 matches here.

Hewitt, ranked 24th in the world, had cruised to a 6-1, 6-1 victory over erratic Russian Marat Safin in the first round.

However, his serve let him down against Benneteau, who is in search of his first career ATP singles title and improved to 6-4 this season.

Benneteau broke Hewitt twice en route to taking the first set and broke him twice again to lead 5-3 in the second.

Hewitt, showing a flash of the form that has earned him 26 career titles, held serve then regained a break as Benneteau double-faulted to even the second set at 5-5.

Benneteau, however, broke back and served out the match in 1hr 45min.

Lleyton will play Indian Wells March 13

March 4

Defending champion and second seed Lleyton Hewitt of Australia crushed Russian Marat Safin 6-2 6-1 in the Las Vegas Open first round on Monday.

Hewitt converted four of six break points and won 83 per cent of his first serve points to clinch victory in 58 minutes.

“I knew I was going to have to be on my game from the start,” Hewitt told reporters. “I was able to get up that early break in both sets, which is important.”

Safin double-faulted three times and made just 40 per cent of his first serve points.

Hewitt became only the second man, after American Andre Agassi, to win the Las Vegas title three times with a straight-sets victory over Austrian Juergen Melzer in last year’s final.

February 20

Lleyton Hewitt's third European indoor tournament in nearly three-and-a-half years has lasted one round and three hours.

The former number one, whose history of ankle injuries has disrupted his tennis travel plans in recent seasons, missed on a match point as he lost to Italian Andreas Seppi 3-6, 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7/4) at the Rotterdam Open first round overnight.

Hewitt last played indoors in Europe a year ago in Marseille, winning a round. Before that he last appeared under a roof on the continent at Paris in November, 2004.

"This is my only indoor event, so it's not like I need indoor matches. I didn't come here expecting a whole heap," said Hewitt, who is scheduled to play in just over a week outdoors in Las Vegas, where he will defend the last title he won.

The Australian's record in tie-breakers has come under scrutiny, with Hewitt now having lost seven of his last eight deciders.Seppi turned the tide in his win thanks to top tie-break play.

"I have the same mindset every year - to win," said former Wimbledon and US Open champion Hewitt. "I would have liked to have gotten a few rounds here, but I have to forget about it now.

"When you're at your peak, you game's on auto-pilot. You manage to get over the line in matches like this. "When you haven't had a lot of tight matches, you hang back waiting for things to happen."

Hewitt, who won against Marcos Baghdatis at the Australian Open in a match which ended at a record 4:40 am in Melbourne, said he was still pleased with his form at his home major where he reached the fourth round.

"I played well at the Open. I absolutely think I can get back to the top five. You just need a bit of luck, you need a break," he said."But once you get a quarter-final or semi-final at a slam, the floodgates open."

Feb 11

Lleyton will play Rotterdam Feb 18

Feb 9

The Optus Australian Davis Cup team’s focus will now switch to Townsville in April after Lleyton Hewitt and Paul Hanley produced a gutsy fightback from two sets down to win the doubles and seal the tie against Chinese Taipei 3-0.

Australia will host the winner of the Kazakhstan v Thailand clash for an Asia-Oceania Zone Group One second round match of the 2008 Davis Cup by BNP Paribas.

The victor in Townsville will secure a berth in the play-off to go into the World Group.

The Hewitt-Hanley pairing is now 2-1 in Davis Cup matches after their remarkable 2-6 6-7(4) 6-4 6-2 6-2 win against Yen-Hsun Lu and Yeu-Tzuoo Wang at Yang Ming Tennis Stadium in Kaohsiung this afternoon.

Lu and Wang’s pinpoint returning helped them break Hanley’s serve twice and race away with the opening set.

After trailing 4-1 in the second set tiebreaker, the locals then reeled off a stunning six straight points to surge to a two set advantage.

“They got off to a pretty quick start. We knew that [with] both these guys their biggest strength was the return of serve and they returned extraordinarily well,” Hewitt would later reflect.

Hanley adding: “Lleyton’s a fighter and I just said to Lleyton after the second set `look just hang in there’ and I knew he would and [that] my game would get a little better.”

The Australians finally gained a break, on Wang’s serve, in the third game of the third set. Hewitt, who didn’t drop serve for the entire match, iced the set with a clever, curving backhand volley –a blood-curdling “c’mon’’ from the Australian number one signalling they were well and truly ready to go the distance.

Hewitt rifled a brilliant forehand winner to secure a break in the first game of the fourth and the Australians, having again lifted, raced away with the last two sets.

“They started really well and put us under a lot of pressure early. We were put to the test today,” Hanley said.

Hewitt concurred. “I thought it was a pretty high standard of doubles out there today … We had to do it the hard way, it was more a mental battle in the end for us to come through and win in five sets,” he said. “Neither of us have come back from two sets to love down in doubles before.”

Optus Australian Davis Cup captain John Fitzgerald said any decision on a change in line-up for the reverse singles dead rubbers would wait until tomorrow morning.

“It’s never easy to win Davis Cup matches. When you play away from home it’s difficult. They were quality opposition, good players, we’re happy. We’re going to celebrate a little tonight and enjoy the win.”

February 8

Day 1 Davis Cup v Chinese Taipei
R1 - Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) d Ti Chen (TPE) 6-4 6-0 6-3
R2 - Chris Guccione (AUS) d Yen-Hsun Lu (TPE) 7-6(5) 6-4 7-6(9)

February 7

Lleyton Hewitt will lead Australia into battle in the Davis Cup play-off against Taiwan this weekend after being drawn to play the opening match tomorrow.

Hewitt will meet Taiwanese No.2 Ti Chen, who is ranked a lowly 270th in the world, in the first singles rubber at Kaohsiung's Yang-Ming Tennis Centre.

Chris Guccione will then take on Taiwan No.1 Yen-Hsun Lu, who is ranked 24 places below Guccione at No.108 in the world.

Australian captain John Fitzgerald has named Hewitt and Paul Hanley as his pairing for Saturday's doubles against Lu and Yeu-Tzuoo Wang.

Australia are bidding to regain their place in the elite 16-nation World Group and must beat Taiwan to advance to a second-round Asia-Oceania play-off against either Thailand or Kazakhstan in Townsville in April.

February 5

A REFRESHED Lleyton Hewitt hit the Taiwanese courts for the first time on Monday as he seeks to lead Australia out of the wilderness in this weekend's Davis Cup tie against Taiwan.

The Australian No.1 and Chris Guccione, who is almost certain to claim the other singles berth, arrived in Kaohsiung on Sunday night to join doubles specialist Paul Hanley and likely reserves Alun Jones and Joe Sirianni for the Asia-Oceania group tie.

While Hewitt's presence should ensure Australia wins through to the next round in the secondary group as it seeks to rejoin the world's elite fighting for the Davis Cup next year, captain John Fitzgerald is mindful of avoiding the fate of the nation's Fed Cup side in Bangkok last week.

While Australia is favoured to defeat Taiwan, it is solely because of Hewitt, the world No.22.

Although he was written off by some critics after failing to reach the semi-finals of an event during the Australian summer, a closer examination of Hewitt's results suggests he is not far from reaching peak form.

After two easy wins in Adelaide, he was thumped by Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, hardly a disgrace, given the Frenchman's romp to the final of the Australian Open in Melbourne.

He was unable to break Guccione, who was at the peak of his serving game, losing in two tiebreak sets in Sydney, then ran into Australian Open winner Novak Djokovic in the fourth round in Melbourne. He should have won the first set despite his hopes being compromised by an all-night affair against Marcos Baghdatis a round earlier.

But the Taiwan side, led by world No.108 Yen-Hsun Lu, stacks up competitively against the rest of the Australian side, particularly on hard-courts, the surface for the tie beginning on Friday.

Lu, 24, enters the tie in reasonable form.

He followed a five-set loss in the first round of the Australian Open with a secondary-circuit tournament win in Waikoloa, Hawaii, where he thrashed veteran American Vince Spadea in the final.

He also boasts a win over Guccione, having toppled the Australian 7-6 6-3 in the first round of a challenger event in Memphis last year.

Yeu-Tzuoo (Jimmy) Wang, a former Australian Open and US Open junior finalist, has not played a tournament this year but pushed Sydney International winner Dmitry Tursunov to three sets in the quarter-finals of a tour event in Bangkok in September.

Guccione posted an early blow for the Australians in the quarter-finals of a challenger event in Guangzhou, China last week by defeating Taiwan's No.3 Ti Chen in three sets.

However the world No.86 was unable to justify his top seeding for the event by bowing out in the semi-finals.

February 4

Australian Davis Cup captain John Fitzgerald says his team must respect its opposition as it attempts to climb out of the Davis Cup wilderness.

Australia has travelled to Taiwan for this weekend's crucial first-round meeting of the Asia-Oceania group tie.

The two teams square off on Friday at Yang Ming Tennis Court in Khaosiung with the winner keeping alive its chances of returning to the World Group.

"We have respect for the Chinese Taipei players," Fitzgerald told media in Khaosiung.

"We have watched them in Australia, we have watched them the last three or four years, they are good players. We have had to bring our best team here to compete."

Australia's No.1 player Lleyton Hewitt said he was feeling fit after being bundled out of January's Australian Open by eventual champion Novak Djokovic.

"I know all of our team will be ready to go come Friday," Hewitt said.

He will look to boost an already imposing Davis Cup record that includes the most singles wins (30) in Australian history.

"It's good to be here, it's always good to be playing for your country," Hewitt added.

"We have such a rich tradition in Davis Cup so for us we're proud to be playing."

Compatriot, big-serving world No.86 Chris Guccione, is keen to build on a busy summer.

"I've played a lot of matches and I'm feeling pretty good at the moment with the way I'm hitting the ball," Guccione said.

Taiwan is likely to be headed up by world No.108 Yen-Hsun Lu who impressed in this year's Hopman Cup and recently won a Challenger event in Hawaii.

He has been ranked as high as 80 and beat Guccione in Memphis early in 2007.

The other singles berth is expected to go to Yeu-Tzuoo Wang, currently 147 in the world

January 23

Optus Australian Davis Cup captain John Fitzgerald today announced the five-man squad which will take on Chinese Taipei in the Davis Cup by BNP Paribas Asia/Oceania first round tie next month.The tie will be played on hard court in Kaohsiung from Friday 8 to Sunday 10 February.

Australia’s number one player Lleyton Hewitt (world No.22) leads up the squad which also includes Chris Guccione (91), Alun Jones (137), doubles specialist Paul Hanley (10 in doubles) and Joseph Sirianni (146), who has been rewarded for his great form this summer.

Darren Cahill has been reappointed as Optus Australian Davis Cup coach.

“We have picked the team we think is best placed to beat Chinese Taipei on their outdoor hard court,” Fitzgerald said today. “We know that they have some good players in the Chinese Taipei squad. They are a dangerous opponent and we will need to play well to win this tie. “But I am confident we have the form and the players to win. We are all very determined to use this tie to begin our climb back into the World Group.”

Fitzgerald was full of praise for the efforts of his players this summer.

“Lleyton has played some sensational tennis here at Melbourne Park. Chris Guccione is in good form and had a great tournament in Sydney. Alun Jones has had some impressive results, Paul Hanley is one of the top players in the world and Joe Sirianni is in the best form of his life.”

Optus Australian Davis Cup squad:
Lleyton Hewitt
Chris Guccione
Alun Jones
Paul Hanley
Joseph Sirianni

January 21

Third seed Novak Djokovic held off Lleyton Hewitt and a pro-Australian crowd to advance to the quarter-finals of the Australian Open with a straight-sets victory on Rod Laver Arena.

The 20-year-old Serb overcame a lacklustre start before overpowering the local favourite 7-5 6-3 6-3.

Djokovic will now meet fifth seed David Ferrer, who defeated Spanish compatriot Juan Carlos Ferrero 7-5 3-6 6-4 6-1.

Coming off an exhausting five-set marathon against Marcos Baghdatis that ended at 4.34am on Sunday morning, Hewitt showed no signs of tiredness as he broke Djokovic early in the first set to take a 4-2 lead.

But wasted opportunities on Djokovic's serve in the seventh game - Hewitt held two break points - allowed the Serb back in the contest.

Serving to stay in the set at 5-6, the Australian had a poor service game to hand Djokovic the set in exactly an hour.

Hewitt broke Djokovic again early in the second set but gave it straight back in the next game as the Serb started to find his range from the back of the court.

The world No.3 broke Hewitt once more in the sixth game before holding his nerve to close out the set 6-3.

The third set was a mere formality with Djokovic looking more comfortable as the match progressed, easing to victory in almost two-and-a-half hours.

January 19

As the clock ticked closer to midnight, the whispers around Melbourne Park, around Australia, around the tennis world was that nothing would stop Lleyton Hewitt and Marcos Baghdatis facing off on Rod Laver Arena on Saturday night, even if it meant playing into much of Sunday morning.

The marquee match-up of the tournament to date would be played at an hour where most players would be tucked up in bed. But Hewitt, the most pugnacious of players who has always likened himself to Rocky Balboa, wasn't about to miss his chance to create his own legend. Baghdatis, always the life of the party, must have also sensed that something special was about to be created.

Boxing, the sport from which Hewitt draws a fair bit of his inspiration, is known for its ridiculous timeslots. Television demands have meant fights outside of the American time zones have had to be held in the middle of the night. Ricky Hatton, the hero of Manchester, was once asked what it would be like fighting at 2am in the morning in England. "Doesn't bother me," he quipped. "Everyone fights at 2am in the morning in Manchester."

Well, everybody doesn't play tennis at 2am in Melbourne, but there is a sense during this magical fortnight in this extraordinary sporting city, that anything goes. There was supposed to be an 11pm curfew on new matches, but on a Saturday night in January in Melbourne, that was never going to be obeyed.

After all, Australia watches most of its tennis in the middle of the night throughout the year. The tennis fans among us push the envelope to stay up and watch Roland Garros and Wimbledon, and set the alarm nice and early to see what's happening at Flushing Meadows. Whether the fans are in the stands on Rod Laver Arena, at home on the couch, or watching on a silent screen at a pub, this was an opportunity not to be missed. Sunday was meant to be a day of rest anyway.

So those in the stands settled in, those on the couch popped on the kettle for the first of many times for the night and those in the bar ordered another round.

And out walked the two warriors. There was no 'Eye of the Tiger' or the theme from Rocky, but it wouldn't have been out of place. Either would a ring announcer yelling 'Let's Get Ready to RRRRRumble'. (Craig Willis would have done an excellent job in between his stints on AO Radio) It was apparent from the first powerful forehand that this was not going to be a sprint, it was going to be a marathon.

The pair exchanged blows, Baghdatis landing the first set, Hewitt the second. Then drama. Baghdatis rolls his ankle and is in pain. The first knock down, but surely it can't end like this? The tennis world holds it breath. The brave Cypriot is given his equivalent of smelling salts (a spray on his ankle during his medical timeout) and he is resurrected. Dry of throat, a nation switches its kettles back on and the barmen suddenly find themselves busy again. Down in the AO radio bunker, the complimentary Evian does its job. Those in the stands catch a glance at their watches, it's past 2am. Hewitt wins the round.

Hewitt has it all over his opponent in the fourth set. He is ready to land the knockout blow, but can't find a way to end it. The Cypriot refuses to offer a white towel. He stays on his feet, a little unsteady, and his opponent seems to will himself away from the win. We're going the distance.

Hewitt rediscovers his killer instinct and puts his opponent under pressure. Finally he nails it and seals it in the fifth. The two warriors embrace, the rest of us stretch and blink and look at the clock. It's 4:34am.

January 17

LLEYTON Hewitt's career is a monument to mind conquering man's vulnerabilities. Perennial predictions of his decline and fall always centred on what he didn't have: size, power and the capacity to win quick, easy points.

More than his return of serve or court speed, the Hewitt mind was what made him. Yesterday, as he eked out an unimpressive, four-set victory over the world No. 216, Uzbekistani Denis Istomin, it seemed that, strangely, the Hewitt mind was not at full-strength.

That's not to say it was suspect. Hewitt is congenitally incapable of flakiness of the kind that afflicted Mark Philippoussis. The difference between Hewitt Heavy and Lleyton Light, in terms of mental strength, is subtle. Some indecision and caution, where once there was strident self-belief. One shakey shot per game, perhaps.

One detected a touch of anxiety, here and there — what tennis types call "tightening up".

If we can't read a player's mind, one can see signs of vulnerability, or volatility. Unusually, Hewitt showed more of the former than the latter.

Seemingly lacking confidence and flow, Hewitt played with excessive caution, like a footballer in his first few games after a knee reconstruction. He wasn't sharp. His concentration wandered.

This should not surprise. Injuries restricted Hewitt to only 51 matches last year; in 2001, as the world No. 1, he played 98. He is fit, not match hardened. He excelled in his first match, struggled yesterday; consistency — another Hewitt hallmark — is not yet evident.

Yesterday's performance was more defensive, less offensive, than the aggressive game style Tony Roche promised when the famed Australian coach took over the Hewitt reclamation project last August. Hewitt's worst moments, especially in the third set, were marked by a safety-first approach.

His conservatism emboldened Istomin, who, judged by rankings and record, played much closer to his peak than Hewitt.

Hewitt's best and most attacking tennis came late, in the fourth set, after the insult of conceding a set to the world's 216th player. He can only hope that he begins his next match as he finished the last; otherwise it will be his last at this Open.

Afterwards, Hewitt played the media as he does all opponents — not conceding on any points. He did not think he'd played so bad and was generous in his assessment of Istomin, who played "a pretty good match". Istomin was a veritable menacing Denis.

Hewitt was not self-critical. He had "played pretty well" in that first set, which went to a tie break (in which the eventual score was 7-5). "I just wasn't quite reading where he was going."

Hewitt would not even allow that he would need to improve significantly to progress, given the step up in class. "It's a different kind of match. You know, I know that I can compete against both of those guys at my best."

The most he would acknowledge, on the negative side of the ledger, was that he had "a couple of lapses in concentration" late in the third set. But these lapses were "only a couple of points" and were not caused by his limited match play in 2007.

His confidence, he said, was not at all diminished by what happened yesterday. "I feel confident. Yeah, I'm through to the third round. It's a matter of surviving the first week as much as possible. I'm getting there so far."

"Surviving" is the revealing word. It carried a recognition that difficulties lay ahead, and perhaps, that, from here on, the draw is challenging.

"I feel good. This is where the tournament starts now," he told centre court.

Or where it ends. Not for the first or last time in the career of Lleyton Hewitt, the betting is against him.

January 15

Crowd favourite Lleyton Hewitt has made a winning start to his bid for an elusive Australian Open crown, crushing Belgium's Steve Darcis in straight sets.

Hewitt needed only 77 minutes to overcome the outclassed Darcis 6-0 6-3 6-0 before an appreciative centre court crowd.

The Australian broke Darcis at will to suggest his game has come together after two scratchy performances in lead-up tournaments.

The emphatic win sets up a second round meeting with Uzbekistan's Denis Istomin.

Hewitt, in his 12th Australian Open campaign, has admitted he is running out of time to win his national championship.

The 26-year-old, who reached the 2005 final, has re-designed his game under new coach Tony Roche and is confident of challenging for the title despite his world ranking slipping to 21.

January 11

Lleyton Hewitt has been placed on the same side of the draw as world number one and defending champion Roger Federer for the Australian Open, which gets underway at Melbourne Park on Monday.

Federer starts his campaign for a fourth title against little-known Argentinan Diego Hartfield, while Hewitt's opening match is against Belgium's Steve Darcis.

Hewitt is likely to meet either former champion Marat Safin or 2006 finalist Marcos Baghdatis in the third round, while world number three Novak Djokovic would be his likely fourth round oponent.

"The segment of the draw that Lleyton's in is a significant one with the likes of Baghdatis and Safin in there," tournament director Craig Tiley said.

"That's a tough segment of the draw."

Hewitt has been seeded 19th and shapes as Australia's only realistic hope in the men's draw, should he play to his ability.

January 9

Number six seed Lleyton Hewitt has been dumped out of the Sydney International by rising star Chris Guccione in a fiery match on Wednesday afternoon.

Hewitt pushed his countryman to tie-breaks in both sets but the big serves of Guccione were too much for Hewitt, who lost the second-round match 7-6, 7-6.

There was plenty of passion from the former Sydney champion, who had a series of arguments with the chair umpire over line calls.

The final flare-up came at 2-3 in the final tie-break when he was incensed that Guccione was allowed to win a point that he was convinced had bounced twice.

Guccione told Channel Seven he is delighted to win against the Australian number one.

"It's nice to beat Lleyton he's one of the top players in the world," he said.

"I seem to love it out here. I've been in the second round here a few times and never been to the quarters.

"Hopefully I can play well tomorrow."

January 8

LLEYTON HEWITT is no longer a reluctant volleyer under the influence of coach Tony Roche.

Coach Roche is attempting to add more aggression and variety to Lleyton Hewitt's regular counter-punching style.

The 26-year-old winner of two Grand Slam titles revealed another side to his game when he dashed to the net to set up his first match point in Sydney yesterday.

Coach Roche is attempting to add more aggression and variety to Hewitt's regular counter-punching style and while it isn't coming easily to the former world No1, he was encouraged by his execution of the volley under fire.

He went on to beat 45th-ranked Frenchman Nicolas Mahut 6-3 6-4 to move into the second round, where he will face big-serving fellow Australian Chris Guccione today.

That match will provide a further challenge for Hewitt's game, subtly reshaped by Roche in the past three months.

Hewitt said his aim was to get to the net "when I get some opportunities".

"It's not my natural game, but it's to mix it up and put some pressure on him," Hewitt said later.

"He came up with a pretty good pass and I was able to hit a real good volley to win that point.

"I guess in the past I've always been more of a counter-puncher, so you've still got to be able to take that from the practice court onto the match court and pick the right balls to do it. I'm definitely getting more comfortable."

Australia's old players' union has long tried to convince Hewitt, who has proven to be an excellent volleyer the few times he does go to the net, to employ the stroke strategically. Roche has seemingly coaxed him to the net.

Hewitt was in command for most of the match against the erratic Mahut, who served 13 double-faults. The South Australian only lost his grip for a few games early in the second set.

Hewitt confessed to subconsciously backing off once he felt he had his opponent on the ropes at the end of the first set.

"I just lost concentration a little bit. He seemed to be struggling with an injury for a couple of games and then he seemed fine," Hewitt said.

The former world No1 is a calmer, more considered athlete these days but his street fighting instincts still lurk close to the surface when he's in a tight spot.

At 4-4 and 30-15 in the second set as he was battling to retain his serve, Hewitt reacted when a lineswoman failed to call a ball out that had landed at his feet near the baseline. He erupted and complained heatedly to umpire Norm Chryst.

However, he composed himself to win the game, raising his eyes and hands to the heavens in praise when another close line call went in his favour. But he still shook his racquet at the offending lineswoman as he walked to his chair.

From there, it was plain sailing for the sixth seed to close out the match.

He is looking forward to playing Guccione, the first time the two Australians have met in tournament play.

"I've played Wayne Arthurs a few times. It's pretty similar to that match-up, so I'm obviously going to have to return well and make him play a lot of balls," Hewitt said.

Guccione vowed to "go out there swinging".

"It will be good, Aussie versus Aussie ... someone in the quarters at least," Guccione said.

"He's one of the best returners in the world so I will have to serve really well. I'll have to play better than today but if I play well I think I've got the game to trouble most guys in the world."

The 2.01m tall Guccione served 18 aces in two sets to despatch Alberto Martin (ranked 138) 7-6 6-4 yesterday.

Hewitt and 'Gooch' are the last remaining Australians in the singles draw after Joe Sirianni and Alun Jones went out in straight sets yesterday.

If Hewitt reaches the semi-finals he won't have to face second-seeded Spaniard Tommy Robredo as he was upset by Czech Radek Stepanek (6-4 6-2).

The other side of the draw lost seventh-seeded Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu, who retired in the second set against Russia's Evgeny Korolev.

January 5

IF Lleyton Hewitt was looking for some relief after his straight-sets pummeling at the Adelaide International, he certainly didn't get it at Saturday's draw for the Sydney International.

His head still spinning from his 6-4 6-2 quarter-final loss to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Hewitt was thrust into an ugly first-round tussle with another big-serving Frenchman.

The four-time Sydney champion will meet 2007 Queen's Club finalist Nicolas Mahut, who, like countryman Tsonga, is a power server boasting a career-high ranking.

Mahut sits two places below Tsonga at No.45 in the world after a breakthrough season in which he also reached the final in Newport and broke into the top 50 for the first time.

Should Hewitt survive his testing opener, he is likely to run into yet another mighty server in Davis Cup teammate Chris Guccione, who has drawn a qualifier first-up.

Like Hewitt, Australian No.2 Peter Luczak also faces a Frenchman in the first round after drawing former Australian Open semi-finalist Sebastien Grosjean.

Australian surprise packet Joe Siriani, a semi-finalist in Adelaide this week having only ever won one match previously on the ATP Tour, will meet a qualifier in the opening round on his Sydney debut.

Alicia Molik, returning to Sydney for the first time since snaring the title in 2005, will square off with world No.23 Lucie Safarova for the second time in a week.

Molik outclassed the Czech left-hander in straight sets at the Hopman Cup in Perth and a repeat success would ensure a second-round date with world No.1 Justine Henin, one of the four top seeds with an opening bye.

Australian Nicole Pratt, in her 20th and almost certainly last season on the WTA Tour, has drawn Frenchwoman Virginie Razzano.

The $1.24 million tournament gets underway Sunday.

January 4

Lleyton Hewitt's Australian Open preparations suffered a blow when he was beaten in the quarter-finals of the Adelaide International.

Hewitt, the top seed, lost 6-4 6-2 to Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who served 14 aces on his way to victory.

"It's frustrating but I've got to look ahead," said the Australian.

"I still feel like I can play a lot better than that. I felt like I had a lot of chances out there but I didn't serve well on the big points."

World number 43 Tsonga beat Hewitt in their only previous meeting, at Queen's Club last June, and once the Frenchman had taken the first set and broken to lead 3-1 in the second, he was well in control.

Tsonga now plays Finn Jarkko Nieminen, who needed two hours and 46 minutes to get past American Vince Spadea 7-6 6-7 7-6.

The other semi-final will be between Australian wildcard Joe Sirianni and unseeded Frenchman Michael Llodra.

January 3

REVENGE was sweet for Lleyton Hewitt when he steamrolled Argentine Jose Acasuso tonight in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2.

Acasuso was the only person to beat Hewitt in five sets in the past four years at the 2006 Davis Cup - but Hewitt wasn't about to let his nose be rubbed in his defeat. Instead, he replied with a fiesty on-court attitude and an easy victory.
"I owed that to him, and it was nice to do it in front of my home time crowd," he said with a sly smile after the match.
It was another fine display of Hewitt's improved physical form with the local hero comfortably running from one side of the court to the other to return most tricks the South American threw at him.
Hewitt is now two games off a final berth, coming up against the winner of the clash between Latvia's Ernests Gulbis and sixth seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (France) tomorrow.
Everything worked in the top seed's favour last night. Acasuso started the game with a fault, setting off a domino-effect of errors throughout the two sets. He served four double faults during the game and was easily frustrated in the first set kicking a ball from the court during the third game. The Australian was undefeated in the first four games, and held serve for the match demonstrating his tight focus that will carry him comfortably through to the Australian Open.

"It felt like I was agressive at the start which was good, and put a bit of doubt in his mind."

Although he looked at ease on court, Hewitt's statistics tell a slightly different story, getting only 32 per cent of first serves in overall. Yet that was more than enough to push Hewitt through to the quarter finals.

"I played pretty well in all I think. Maybe my serving in patches was a little bit off, but I didn't drop my serve for the match so I can't be that disappointed.

"It's a step in the right direction.

"Everyone expects you to go out there and win, and I've stepped up to the plate and won convincingly both times."

Punters would be forgiven for underestimating Acasuso. With a ranking of 65 versus Hewitt's 21, the Argentinian excelled this year making his ninth ATP final and two other quarter final appearances. However nothing could stop him from being annihalated by Tony Roche's latest prodigy last night.

"There are not many things that are good enough for Rochey on the court I think, so we're working on it the whole time.

"Every minute that we're on the practice court there's a reason why we're out there and that's been the biggest change I think and I've really enjoyed it."

Off-court physical training is paying dividends for Hewitt. After beating Israeli Dudi Sela in the first round 6-2, 6-2, Adelaide's own looked refreshed and ready to leap after any ball. His agility and flexibility were noticeably improved, giving Hewitt the depth required to return to the top 10 of the world.

"I've tried to mix it up a lot with speed, agility, boxing and a lot of running," he said.

January 2

LLEYTON HEWITT'S quest to be more unpredictable began predictably.

The South Australian took just 66 minutes to dismantle unheralded Israeli Dudi Sela 6-2, 6-2 in a first-round fixture at the Adelaide International. Hewitt's comprehensive triumph was the perfect start to a new year in which the 26-year-old has resolved to become more unpredictable on court, refining his approach with new mentor Tony Roche. Hewitt spoke pre-tournament of wanting to tinker with his tactics in a bid to grasp his holy grail, the Australian Open, later this month.

But in last night's performance before an adoring home crowd at Memorial Drive, it was hard to discern any real difference - the match was over so quickly. The thrashing was distinguished by typical Hewitt traits: pressure and precision.

Hewitt's severe treatment of Sela's faltering service overwhelmed the 22-year-old Israeli, who lost the initial four games of each set in sliding to an inevitable loss. Hewitt also served seven aces and won 90 per cent of his first-serve points in a polished display in his first tournament match in almost three months.

"It was perfect," Hewitt said. "I got off to a good start and played pretty aggressively."

Hewitt said the wily Roche offered measured praise for his near-faultless performance.

"He said, 'Well done', he doesn't go over the top too much," Hewitt said of his new coach. "It's a first-round match, so I have started the new year well. I think he was pretty happy with the way that I played. I felt pretty good with everything I am working on at the moment.

"I definitely still worked on areas of my game out there that I wanted to try and keep doing and take from the practice court onto the match court, and I felt like I was able to do that somewhat."