Lleyton Hewitt's 6-4 6-2 win over Norman left the Swede with just four wins in 13 matches.

Pat Rafter clinched victory by beating Thomas Enqvist 6-3 6-3 after establishing a massive lead in each set.

Norman, who often looked sluggish compared to the lively Australian, failed to hold his first six service games, and could not even earn a game point on his serve in the first set.

Hewitt was always in charge despite twice losing his serve to love, and he claimed satisfaction with the level of his game. The 20-year-old even believes he could be a contender at the upcoming French Open.

"He (Norman) doesn't have the confidence and self-belief in him at the moment," said Hewitt.

"But I felt I played a lot better than I have been playing. It was a good step up for me today. I kept the ball deep right from the word go, and once I got up a break in each set I felt like I consolidated it well.

"As for the French (Open), I definitely give myself an outside chance. I believe when I play the matches like I did in Brazil and over the last couple of weeks, I feel like I can match it with anyone.

"Still, to do it seven matches in a row is going to be tough and you've still got to look at the guys who have been there and done it, I think."

Rafter led 5-0 in the first set, but was then broken in a marathon seventh game as he served for the set, failing to convert three set points in the nine-deuce game.

In the second set he led 4-0, but was broken again as he served for victory at 5-2.

While some players may be rusty after a break, laugh-a-minute Rafter says it has done him nothing but good.

"I can't knock anything that I did today," said the former US Open champion. "I was very relaxed and the result just took care of itself then.

"I've had a good break. I did everything I wanted to do, had some good training and a lot of laughs and I'm here with the same sort of attitude. I guess I've found the right state of mind for me right now.

"Usually I'm not playing this well when I come back from a big break. I'm actually laughing at myself sometimes on the court."

Wayne Arthurs and Scott Draper won the doubles, beating Thomas Enqvist and Nicklas Kulti 7-5 7-5.

Nicolas Kiefer continued to struggle as Spain beat host nation Germany, following up his loss to Enqvist on Monday with a 6-4 6-2 defeat by Juan Balcells.

Just one break in the third game decided the opening set, and Kiefer double-faulted to go down 3-2 in the second on his way to conceding five straight games.

Alex Corretja then followed up with a 6-3 6-3 win over Tommy Haas.

Haas teamed with David Prinosil to win the doubles, beating Balcells and Alex Lopez-Moron 6-3 6-2.

21 May, 2001 , DUSSELDORF ,

HEWITT AND CORRETJA FEUD CONTINUES

It seems that memories do last. Irrespective of what Alex Corretja may say, there is still a fair amount of ill feeling between the Spaniard and Lleyton Hewitt and it surfaced once more on the tennis court during the deciding doubles match of the Arag World Team Championship tie between Australia and Spain.

The last time Australia and Spain met in a tennis team competition it was the Davis Cup final last December and Spain scored its first ever Davis Cup championship. The same team members returned in Dusseldorf and this time Australia came away with the victory, 2-1.

Corretja gave Spain the first point when he defeated Lleyton Hewitt 3-6, 6-2, 6-3, then Pat Rafter levelled the tie with a 6-3, 6-2 result over Juan Balcells, but in the deciding doubles Rafter and Hewitt teamed to beat Corretja and Balcells 6-4, 0-6, 6-3. But the incident in the doubles overshadowed the tie.

Corretja showed more than his usual amount of emotion after the result but made the point that it had nothing to do with the feud which has come between himself and Hewitt, something that started at the Australian Open last year and continued very visibly at the Tennis Masters Cup in Lisbon and then at the Davis Cup final in Barcelona.

Corretja explained that while he and Hewitt are not going out to dinner, they have buried the hatchet although neither player made a move to calm the waters. Corretja said: "There is nothing between us. We have to see each other every day and it is not necessary to create a bad atmosphere about it, everybody has his own personality and we have to respect all.

"We just let it go, time will heel and maybe at sometime we will be normal again," said Corretja. "We are not close friends but we have nothing against each other and that's the most important thing."

But in the doubles match words were exchanged when Corretja returned a ball that was aimed directly at Hewitt who was at the net. The Spaniard's aim was accurate enough because it hit the Australian on the forehead and knocked him flat on his back.

"It was a good shot, he went for me deliberately and got me, it was too good. Pretty lucky he didn't get me in the eye, it could have been a lot worse," said Hewitt who did not see the ball coming at him.

Rafter jumped to Hewitt's defence and after the match had words with Corretja: "It's been no secret about Lleyton and Alex having their problems and I just thought it was time to really finish it. Lleyton was just being Lleyton on the court. I just said 'he was doing fine and you didn't need to go out and do that'. I thought it was a little bit rough and if he can't take someone getting pumped up then just don't come on the court.

"He agreed with me and I know he was feeling bad. He did mean to hit him, he admits that, but not quite in that fashion. I told him it wasn't the right way to go about it."

In the other tie that was played, home side Germany beat Sweden 2-1. Tommy Haas rallied back to beat Magnus Norman, who continues to struggle with his form, 6-7, 7-6, 6-4, then Thomas Enqvist beat Nicolas Kiefer 6-2, 6-3 and then Haas and David Prinosil defeated Jonas Bjorkman and Nicklas Kulti 6-4, 6-3.

Earlier, Juan Carlos Ferrero explained that his chances of competing in next week's French Open have been thrown in doubt. The 21 year old strained a groin muscle during his quarterfinal match against Thomas Johansson in Hamburg last week but did not want to pull out of the event and went on to reach the final. In hindsight the decision could have cost him the French Open.

"I have trouble to walk, there is pain and if Roland Garros was this week I would not be playing," said Ferrero who was to lead Spain at the Arag World Team Championship. "I don't know yet for Roland Garros, I have to have therapy. It is difficult to do everything now. It has to be 80% improved from now to be able to play in Paris. I will do everything to play."

Rafter takes Corretja to task
By LEO SCHLINK in Dusseldorf
23may01

PAT Rafter shamed Alex Corretja into apologising after the Spaniard deliberately felled Lleyton Hewitt with a fierce drive at the World Team Cup yesterday.

With Australia leading 3-1 in the final set of the doubles rubber, Hewitt was struck in the head at close range by Corretja, prompting Rafter to upbraid him.

"He went for me deliberately. I didn't see it and he got me a beauty," said Hewitt, who sported a rising welt over his right eye after Australia partially avenged Davis Cup defeat to the Spaniards with a 2-1 win at the Rochusclub.

With a stunned Hewitt flat on his back mid-court, an unimpressed Rafter walked to the net and berated Corretja.

"It's been no secret about Lleyton and Alex having had their problems," Rafter said, referring to Corretja's criticism of the South Australian before and during last year's Davis Cup final in Barcelona.

"I just thought it was time to really finish it. Lleyton was just being Lleyton out there and he was doing fine and I told him, (Corretja) `I don't think you need to go out and do that'. If he can't take Lleyton getting a little bit pumped up, I said he shouldn't go on court.

"Alex agreed with me and he didn't mean to hit him, not quite in that fashion. He admits that."

Corretja had earlier declared the silent war between he and Hewitt was over after he had downed the Adelaide baseliner in singles, but problems clearly still exist.

The Australian camp was still irate with Corretja hours after the match given the number of options the former world No. 2 had available. In essence, he could have put the ball anywhere, but chose to rifle it at Hewitt ¨C who was so confident the ball would be struck to another part of the court, he had turned away.

If the ball had hit him in the nose, it would have broken it.

Aside from his victories yesterday, Rafter was relaxed and growing in confidence ahead of the French Open in Paris on Monday.

He was seeded eighth when rankings for the tournament were released yesterday. Hewitt is sixth seed.

A finalist at the All-England Club last year, Rafter concedes his chances of succeeding at the toughest claycourt tournament in the world are slim at best after missing the past six weeks to rest while recovering from chronic tendinitis in his right wrist.

He resumed with a strong 6-3 6-2 win in singles over Spanish substitute Juan Balcells before joining with Hewitt to cement the win by snaring the doubles rubber in controversial circumstances against Balcells and Corretja.

Dreading the workload for the rest of the season, Rafter again called on the ATP to shorten the season as he continues to nurse a deteriorating body, conceding he is unlikely to shake off the wrist problem.

Rafter piloted Australia to a meeting with host nation Germany tomorrow by defeating substitute Balcells in the second singles match after Hewitt plunged to a 3-6 6-2 6-3 singles loss to Corretja.

The Queenslander then helped Hewitt post a 6-4 0-6 6-3 success over Balcells and Corretja in the decisive doubles match, easing some of the depression surrounding the 3-1 Davis Cup loss.

Hewitt cruises into semis (Foxsports)
From our wire services

19 May 01

News Interactive

HAMBURG: Seventh seed Lleyton Hewitt remained on target for the Hamburg Masters Series title with a quarter- final win over Argentine Franco Squillari overnight.

Hewitt set up a semi-final clash with Albert Portas, one of three Spaniards to make up the final four. The 20-year-old said he is having a great time despite the north German rain as he cruised into semi-finals with a 6-4 6-2 over Squillari.

"It's great to be in the semis again," said Hewitt, referring to runs to the same stage in the Masters Series events at Indian Wells and Miami earlier in the year.

"I'm getting better and better."

Hewitt broke for a 5-4 lead in the first set and a further break for 3-2 set up a rampaging victory.

The Aussie star only managed to make it to the second round on his debut here 12 months ago but showed he has been a quick learner on slow red clay as he dominated his first meeting with Squillari, who fell at the quarter-final for the fourth time this season.

Hewitt is at home on clay
15 May, 2001 (foxsports.com.au)

HAMBURG: Lleyton Hewitt marched into the second round of the Hamburg Masters Series today with a powerful 6-2 6-3 win 
over Arnaud di Pasquale on the slowest of European red clay. 

Hewitt shrugged off his third-round exit in Rome last week to Spaniard Alex Corretja and said the cool, sluggish conditions 
could only help him as the 20-year-old Adelaider prepares to storm the French Open in a fortnight's time. 

Hewitt, currently ranked seventh on the ATP entry system, is rapidly coming to terms with the surface, having in April beaten 
'King of Clay' Gustavo Kuerten on his home ground in the Davis Cup - one of only two matches that the Brazilian has lost on 
the surface in a year. 

The battling Aussie said the Kuerten result had made him realise anything was possible - even on a surface which neutralises 
much of his aggressiveness. 

"It's helped me to be able to reflect on those matches and instil that confidence on clay (the fact) that I beat Gustavo Kuerten. 
I don't think the pressure gets any tougher than playing Davis Cup tennis, let alone playing in Brazil against the best player in 
the world. 

"I can definitely reflect on that and draw strength from that going into the French Open." 

And after dispatching di Pasquale, Hewitt, who spent the latter part of last season battling a virus, said he felt he was on 
target for the French Open as well as a good run here - but needed a few more matches under his belt before he could think 
about a claycourt title. 

"Coming onto clay it's tough if you haven't put a lot of hours in - it's one of those surfaces that's pretty hard to get into. 

"It's tough conditions out there - the balls are so heavy, the clay is so slow. I'm happy to get through it," he admitted after 
overcoming Pasquale. 

"A lot has got to do with the weather. German clay is definitely slower than the French clay." END

an updated version of above article

Lleyton Hewitt marched into the second round of the Hamburg Masters Series with a powerful showing against Arnaud di Pasquale on the slowest of European red clay.

Hewitt shrugged off his third-round exit in Rome last week to Spaniard Alex Corretja and said the cool, sluggish conditions could only help him as the 20-year-old Adelaider prepares to storm the French Open in a fortnight's time.

Hewitt, currently ranked seventh on the ATP entry system, is rapidly coming to terms with the surface, having in April beaten 'King of Clay' Gustavo Kuerten on his home ground in the Davis Cup - one of only two matches that the Brazilian has lost on the surface in a year.

The battling Aussie said the Kuerten result had made him realise anything was possible - even on a surface which neutralises much of his aggressiveness.

"It's helped me to be able to reflect on those matches and instil that confidence on clay (the fact) that I beat Gustavo Kuerten. I don't think the pressure gets any tougher than playing Davis Cup tennis, let alone playing in Brazil against the best player in the world.

"I can definitely reflect on that and draw strength from that going into the French Open."

And after dispatching di Pasquale, Hewitt, who spent the latter part of last season battling a virus, said he felt he was on target for the French Open as well as a good run here - but needed a few more matches under his belt before he could think about a claycourt title.

"Coming onto clay it's tough if you haven't put a lot of hours in - it's one of those surfaces that's pretty hard to get into.

"It's tough conditions out there - the balls are so heavy, the clay is so slow. I'm happy to get through it," he admitted after overcoming Pasquale.

"A lot has got to do with the weather. German clay is definitely slower than the French clay."

Hewitt said he felt all the better for coming here after taking a rest following his exploits against Kuerten.

"I put the rackets down and rested up basically," he explained.

"It's good to be back on the Tour right now. I fell like I'm playing better and better - though there's a few areas of my game I need to work on.

"But I've got a couple of weeks before I really start settling in in Paris." END

HEWITT FANCIES FRENCH
Rome, Italy, May 11 – It’s time

Australia's Lleyton Hewitt believes it is about time that he won a Grand Slam tournament - and the 20-year-old from Adelaide believes the French Open starting later this month could provide him with the perfect stage.

Hewitt, seeded seven at the Foro Italico, was not too discouraged by his third-round defeat at the hands of Spain's Alex Corretja in the Tennis Masters Series tournament.

Although the Aussie had trailed 7-6 (7-2), 4-3 overnight he battle hard before going down 6-4 to Corretja, saving three match points before losing on the fourth.

And he is pleased with his form on clay - a surface where he is a relative novice.

"I'm learning more patience playing on clay," said Hewitt. "Playing in Brazil (in the Davis Cup) gave me a lot of confidence but this is a different ball game.

"Now I must get ready for the French Open but I think I have a chance," said Hewitt.

Asked if he thought he could win at Roland Garros Hewitt said: "I have confidence in myself, I definitely have a chance."

It was only at the age of 13 on a tour of Belgium, Holland and Germany that Hewitt first sampled the slow red surface but he believes his recent experience in Brazil was of great benefit.

Hewitt, the only man to beat reigning French Open champion and year 2000 ATP Champions Race winner Gustavo Kuerten on clay in a year, tipped the Brazilian known as 'Guga' as favourite to win in Paris.

"Kuerten is definitely favourite," said Hewitt. "The way he is playing especially in big matches makes him a favourite."

And the Aussie named in-form Spaniard Juan Carlos Ferrero and American Andre Agassi as real contenders also mentioning Russia's Yevgeny Kafelnikov and Corretja.

"Ferrero he is playing fantastic too and you can never take Andre out of it too," said Hewitt.

Hewitt also spoke of his new doubles alliance with Agassi, which got off to a spectacular start when they beat experienced Indian campaigners Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi here in the first round after trailing 5-0 in the deciding set.

Asked what he had learned from Agassi Hewitt said: "Coming back from 5-0 down in the third. That is something I have never done before. When you have got someone like Andre Agassi on the other side of the court it helps - he was really pumped up."

Agassi, Hewitt team up
By LEO SCHLINK
05may01

A MUTUAL quest for matchplay has led to Andre Agassi and Lleyton Hewitt – the world's finest service returners – teaming up in doubles for the Rome Masters series from Monday.

Australian Open champion Agassi, the winner of three singles tournaments already this season, rarely appears in doubles competition.

However, the American veteran has not played since winning in Miami last month and is eager to hone his polished arsenal in preparation for the French Open, which starts on May 28.

Agassi is a runaway leader in the Champions' race. Hewitt is ninth.

The top eight will qualify for the Tennis Masters Cup in Sydney in November.

Hewitt, 20, has not played since guiding Australia to a memorable 3-1 Davis Cup quarter-final victory over Brazil in Florianopolis on April 8.

The Adelaide baseliner travelled to Bol last week to practise with coach Darren Cahill at the Croatian Open, where his girlfriend Kim Clijsters and sister Jaslyn were competing.

Aside from compiling seven singles titles as a teenager – the sixth best total in history – Hewitt has built an outstanding doubles record.

He partnered Max Mirnyi, of Belarus, to victory in the US Open last year and, more recently, teamed with Pat Rafter to deliver a straight-sets triumph over Gustavo Kuerten and Jaime Oncins.

Hewitt bypassed the Monte Carlo Masters series because of a long-standing breathing ailment but has since recovered.

He will contest Hamburg and the World Team Cup in Dusseldorf before travelling to Paris for the French Open, where he will be one of the favourites to lift the Musketeers' Cup.

Meanwhile, Australia's big-hitting Mark Philippoussis remains a doubtful starter for Wimbledon as he slowly recovers from his career-threatening knee injury.

Philippoussis's manager John McCurdy said yesterday Scud still hadn't hit a ball since undergoing a second operation at the end of March to repair cartilage damage in his left knee.

The 24-year-old Victorian had initially expected to be sidelined for at least two months but was hopeful of being back for the world's most prestigious tournament, which starts at the end of June.

He's now a "week-to-week" proposition, according to McCurdy, who confirmed Philippoussis was resigned to missing the French Open, the year's second grand slam tournament.

"He was always very doubtful for the French (Open) . . . he's tentative for the grass season in England," McCurdy said