Hewitt thumped as US win Hopman Cup Jan 4

World number one Serena Williams and partner James Blake have carried the United States to a convincing victory over Australia in the final of the $1 million Hopman Cup tennis tournament in Perth.

Williams scorched to a straight sets victory over Alicia Molik to give the United States a 1-0 lead before Blake upset Australia's top-ranked Lleyton Hewitt to clinch the crown.

The pair then completed a clean sweep in the mixed doubles, winning 6-3, 6-2.

Blake, ranked 28th, won 6-3, 6-4 in 64 minutes.

It was the American's first win over Hewitt in five meetings.

Displaying awesome power, Williams outclassed Molik, ranked only 94th, and won 6-2, 6-3 at the Burswood Dome.

"I have gone a little bit better each time I have played here this week," said Williams, who has won all four singles clashes in convincing fashion.

"Yes, I am definitely getting better and better, and I am happy that I have got some useful matches under my belt."

Her number one target for the New Year is the Australian Open, starting in just over a week.

Williams, returning in blistering fashion, broke the Australian in the opening game of the first set.

Holding her own service comfortably, she romped to a 2-0 advantage in the opening five minutes.

Steadying, Molik held service in the third to pull back to 1-2.

But, after the next three games had gone with service, Williams broke again in the seventh and served out in the eighth to win in a canter in 22 minutes.

Williams won every one of her four service games with an ace.

In the second set, Molik began promisingly, establishing a 2-1 lead after holding her first two service games.

But Williams broke in the fifth, moving to a 3-2 advantage and hanging on to wrap up the set and match.

In the men's singles, Blake captured the first set in 33 minutes in a match featuring long, probing rallies.

The crucial game was the sixth in which the fast-moving American broke Hewitt's service and hung on.

Hewitt began the second set disastrously, dropping service in the opening game.


Hewitt unperturbed

However, he shrugged off his second successive defeat, saying he was not concerned only just over a week before the Australian Open.

The loss came only two days after Hewitt lost in three sets to the Czech Republic's Jiri Novak.

"You don't always want to go into Grand Slams playing your best tennis right at the start," Hewitt said.

"I know the year I won the US Open (2001) I was not playing my best tennis until I got to the fourth round.

"The competitive juices will get working as soon as I get out there (in Melbourne).

"You get the smell of a Grand Slam - and I think I will be able to get up for it."

Hewitt conceded that his first-serve percentage was still not what he was aiming for.

"I felt I have not quite had the rhythm there in the last two matches," he said.

"It was there in patches today (against Blake), but it just wasn't consistent enough.

"I felt I had a lot of chances out there, but today he played the big points a lot better than I did."

Hewitt described Blake, whom he beat in a five-set marathon in last year's US Open, as a good player.

"I felt I should have beaten him in straight sets there," Hewitt said.

"I wasted a lot of opportunities there, and I felt he had played just as well as he could that day.

"He is a tough player - sometimes very hot and cold. He can play extremely well and have off days as well.

"Even though I lost to him today in straight sets, I had a lot of opportunities to break serve and get back on serve - but I didn't take them.

"My aim now will be to get some rhythm and consistency in readiness for the Australian Open."


Serena, Blake Win Handily as U.S. Wins Hopman Cup Final

.c Reuters

PERTH, Australia (Jan. 4) -- A ferocious James Blake thrashed world No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt in sensational style on Saturday to win the Hopman Cup for the United States.

The American obliterated Hewitt in just 64 minutes with searing serves and stunning forehands to triumph 6-3, 6-4 at the Burswood Dome.

Women's world No. 1 Serena Williams had earlier set the U.S. up for victory, blasting Alicia Molik 6-2, 6-3 but not even she could have expected Blake to punish Hewitt so ruthlessly.

The Australian threw his frame around the indoor court as he battled to keep his nation in the final but was powerless against a player at the top of his powers.

Blake stormed to victory, his first in five meetings with Hewitt, breaking the Wimbledon champion four times in the match.

The defeat -- his second this week -- is a setback for Hewitt whose stated goal this year is to mount a serious challenge at the Australian Open in nine days time.

The United States had won the mixed team event just once from five finals before Williams and Blake teamed up this year.

Hewitt and Molik had also been looking to clinch Australia's second triumph.

But Williams dealt the hosts an early blow and brought Molik back to earth with a devastating display first up.

The 21-year-old Molik had enjoyed the best results of her career coming into the final, but was helpless as Williams put the U.S. into a 1-0 lead with ease.

A pair of breaks in both sets were enough as Williams cantered past the home hope without barely breaking sweat.

"It's really great -- it's a wonderful team atmosphere and I have really enjoyed it, really enjoyed partnering James," Williams said.

Jan 2 2003
3rd tie - Aust defeats Czech Republic 2-1.  - will play either USA or Belgium in Saturdays final.

Australia came from beyond the brink of defeat to win beat the Czech Republic and claim a place in Saturday’s final of the $1-million Hyundai Hopman Cup tennis championship.

Lleyton Hewitt and Alica Molik pulled off an incredible mixed doubles victory after appearing to be Well-beaten following a split in the singles rubbers.

The Aussies saved three match points before winning the mixed doubles 4-6, 7-5 and 10 points to four In the Match Tiebreak.

The deciding mixed doubles came after world No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt was upset by 7th-ranked Czech star Jiri Novak, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3.

That came after Australia had notched a stunning upset by Molik, who downed the higher-ranked Daja Bedanova, 7-6, 7-5, with the first-set tie-breaker going Molik’s way seven points to three after she had trailed five games to one.

The other group in the ITF mixed teams championship will see a winner-take-all battle between top seeds the USA and third seeds Belgium in Perth’s Burswood Dome tomorrow morning. (fri)

The other round-robin match tonight saw the Slovak Republic beat Italy in a clean sweep of the singles with Daniela Hantuchova downing Silvia Farina-Elia 6-4, 6-3 and Dominik Hrbaty beating Davide Sanguinetti 6-3, 7-6, with the tiebreaker going seven points to four.

Earlier today Belgium set up its showdown with the USA by beating Uzbekistan three rubbers to nil, with world No. 4 Kim Clijsters in stunning form.

Awesome Aussies Reach Hopman Final

Thu January 2, 2003 11:16 AM ET
By Ossian Shine

PERTH, Australia (Reuters) - Australian duo Lleyton Hewitt and Alicia Molik fist-pumped and high-fived their way back from three match points down to squeeze past a valiant Czech team and reach the Hopman Cup final Thursday.

The pair, who played together as juniors in South Australia, whipped the Burswood crowd into a patriotic frenzy as they repelled a fierce Czech advance to scrap out a 10-4 match tiebreak win after splitting the first two sets 4-6, 7-5.

"Bloody good, that's how it's been," Molik beamed afterwards. "Forget the singles, that mixed doubles tops everything I reckon."

Molik, ranked 94th in the world, had looked to be the team's weak link heading into the decisive Group B match but she produced a scintillating singles victory over Daja Bedanova, hauling herself back from 5-1 40-30 down in the opening set to beat the Czech 7-6, 7-5 and put the second-seeded hosts 1-0 ahead.

"How about that?" she grinned on courtside immediately afterwards.

But the grins soon turned to frowns as world number one Hewitt was then stunned by Jiri Novak 6-2, 3-6, 6-3.

CHEAP POINTS

The shock singles defeat was a first for Hewitt at this year's mixed team event and was the first rubber Australia have conceded.

World number seven Novak was simply too powerful and too determined for counter-puncher Hewitt.

"This is one of the best victories of my life... I am so happy that I was able to do this here today," he said.

"I was hitting the ball very fast and maybe playing better than Lleyton at the moment."

Hewitt certainly had no answer to the Czech's game.

"He played extremely well... I wasn't quite on my game. A guy like Jiri doesn't give you any cheap points. He was too good tonight," he said.

"I am just delighted I could hit a couple of big shots on match point down in the mixed and help Alicia out after her tremendous win."

Australia will face either the U.S. or Belgium in Saturday's final.

Belgium earlier whitewashed Uzbekistan in the $563,400 tournament with Hewitt's girlfriend Kim Clijsters and Xavier Malisse sweeping the board.

Malisse shunted his flamboyant game back on track just in time. A semi-finalist at Wimbledon last year, he has blown hot and cold since but at the Burswood Dome he was able to put a shaky start and a mystery illness behind him to beat Oleg Ogorodov 6-3, 6-7, 6-2 and clinch the win for the fourth-seeded Belgians.

Earlier Clijsters notched up her first win of the new year, steamrolling Uzbek Iroda Tulyaganova 6-3, 6-2 to nudge Belgium into the lead in their clash.

Malisse, beaten by Spain's Tommy Robredo in his opening match, woke up Thursday morning feeling unwell but managed to shake off the illness during his match.

"I was feeling dizzy and not well... this morning I didn't want to eat but had to eat something for energy," he said.

"But as the match wore on I felt better and better.

"On court things felt much better today," he added. "The more balls I hit the more confident and comfortable I felt," he said.

Hewitt, Molik Celebrate Early at Hopman Cup - Dec 31 def Slovaks 3-0

Tue December 31, 2002 02:37 AM ET
By Ossian Shine

PERTH, Australia (Reuters) - World number one Lleyton Hewitt kicked off his New Year celebrations a few hours early Tuesday, demolishing Dominik Hrbaty 6-2, 6-0 as Australia maintained their 100 percent record in the mixed team event.

The one-sided victory secured a win for the second-seeded Australian pair who went on to take the mixed doubles 7-6, 7-6 for a 3-0 whitewash over the Slovaks.

Earlier Alicia Molik topped off 2002 with the best win of her career, beating world number eight Daniela Hantuchova 6-4, 6-2.

The victory was her first over a top 10-ranked player. Australia are yet to lose a set in the contest.

"We're doing alright aren't we...the South Australians are doing okay," grinned Hewitt who grew up with Molik in Adelaide.

"I needed a good match today and got that. To come out here and win in under an hour...that's pretty hard in men's tennis these days."

Hewitt has dominated men's tennis throughout 2002, remaining in the number one spot for the entire year. His ruthless demolition of Hrbaty ended his year in fitting style.

"I felt like I needed to step it up a notch today and I did just that," Hewitt said.

"I didn't really give him a chance to play his best tennis and that is what it is all about."

HAIR'S BREADTH

Molik's victory was less expected and clearly thrilled the 21-year-old.

"Yeah, that's my first top 10 scalp," she beamed courtside after completing her 66-minute victory.

"It was something I was searching for this year -- so to get it on the last day is pretty special.

"It means I might be able to celebrate New Year a bit more I guess."

Molik, like Hewitt, is due to attend a Hopman Cup black tie ball later Tuesday, but did not wait till then to start her celebrations.

She played a fine game on court against the world number eight, serving with great power and striking the ball firmly off both sides.

The 94th-ranked Molik reduced the 86 places which separate the two to a hair's breadth and ran the Slovak ragged on Burswood's main court.

A break in the ninth game of the opening set gave her the opportunity to seal the set and once she was ahead she never looked back.

Thrilling a boisterous home crowd, the blonde South Australian broke twice more to clinch the match in emphatic fashion.

"I was very, very happy with my performance," she said afterwards.

"I have had opportunities to win matches like that in the past but have been unable to follow through.

"This win gives me a lot of confidence - I will carry that through to 2003."


Aussie duo outwit Slovaks

Lleyton Hewitt maintained Australia's 100% record in this year's Hopman Cup after dropping just two games en route to defeating Slovakian Dominik Hrbaty.

The world number one made light work of Hrbaty to move Australia into an unassailable 2-0 lead in the group match.

For good measure, Hewitt then combined with Alicia Molik to win the mixed doubles against Dominik Hrbaty and Daniela Hantuchova after two tie-breaks.

Their victory wrapped up a comfortable 3-0 win after Molik had earlier pulled off the best win of her career with a 6-4 6-2 victory over world number eight Hantuchova.

Afterwards Hewitt said: "We're doing alright aren't we?

"I needed a good match today and got that. To come out here and win in under an hour, that's pretty hard in men's tennis these days."

Hewitt was far too powerful for Hrbaty, winning the first set in just 21 minutes before rarely being pushed in the second.

Molik had got Australia off to a winning start in Tuesday's opening Hopman Cup game.

The world number 94 was in inspired form in front of her home crowd as she recorded her first ever win over a player in the world's top 10.

The 21-year-old produced potent serve-and-volley tennis to frustate Hantuchova, whose performance was riddled with unforced errors.

A break in the ninth game of the opening set gave Molik the opportunity to seal the set and from there she never looked back.

She broke twice more in the second set to clinch a 1-0 lead.

After her 66-minute win, she said: "My first top 10 scalp - it was something I was searching for here this year - so to get it on the last day is pretty special.

"It means I might be able to celebrate New Year a bit more I guess."

Aussies in blistering form Dec 31 2002 def Slovak Republic 3-0

THE Australian pairing of Lleyton Hewitt and Alicia Molik are on track for a berth in the final of this year’s $1-million ITF Hyundai Hopman Cup championship being played at Perth’s Burswood Dome.

With Molik notching an upset 6-4, 6-2 win over world No. 8 Daniela Hantuchova in 67 minutes and Hewitt blasting Dominik Hrbaty off the court 6-2, 6-0 in under the hour, the Aussies have claimed victory over the Slovak Republic, with the mixed doubles to follow.

Molik’s victory was achieved with some tremendous serving as she posted seven aces and continually put pressure on Hantuchova’s service to hold 12 break points. Even though she only clinched three of those, it was enough to secure a comfortable victory.

Hewitt was in devastating form against Hrbaty, who has one of the best returns of service in the game, but today it was of no significance as the Australian allowed him just three break points, but did not concede service once.

Seeded No. 2 for the 15th international mixed teams championship, the Australians have now won both matches as they chase their second Cup victory and they are yet to drop a set. With the third-seeded Czech Republic looming as their major rivals to top their Group, Thursday’s clash will determine the finalist from their sector.

The New Year opens with the top seeds and tournament favourites USA up against defending champions Spain in the morning, followed by the Czech Republic and Italy in the evening session.

Australia notch clean sweep in Hopman Cup
29 December 2002


AUSTRALIA has completed a clean sweep in the singles to open their Hyundai Hopman Cup campaign impressively in the $1-million ITF mixed teams tennis championship at Perth’s Burswood Dome.
World No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt wrapped up his clash with Davide Sanguinetti 6-3, 6-1 after the Italian rolled his right ankle towards the end of the first set and after injury time and then almost immediately a 55-minute break due to a power failure, the Aussie wrapped up the match quickly.

Earlier, Alicia Molik had beaten Silvia Farina-Elia 6-3, 6-4 despite being ranked some 77 places lower than the Italian in the women’s list.

Molik sealed the victory in 70 minutes after coming from 1-3 down in the opening set, with a string of five games in a row. She broke the Italian in the second set, only to drop her own service before recovering for a second break and then clinching the match. The Australians made it 3-0 when the Italians forfeited due to Sanguinetti’s ankle injury and the host nation now advances to Tuesday’s battle with the Slovak Republic.

Hewitt takes Hopman lead
December 29, 2002

A RUTHLESS Lleyton Hewitt overcame a "funky" string pattern and an hour delay to lead Australia to a crushing opening win over Italy in the Hopman Cup.

Hewitt, who is more obsessed with his strings than any other tennis player, made the best use of an hour's break because of a power failure as he rectified his problems.

Hewitt eventually eased to a 6-3 6-1 victory over injured Italian Davide Sanguinetti.

It handed the home nation an unbeatable lead in the group B match at the mixed teams event in Perth.

The world No.1 backed up his team-mate Alicia Molik's good work in her surprise 6-3 6-4 victory over Silvia Farina Elia.

World No.52 Sanguinetti was always going to be up against it but an ankle injury in the first set ended any chance of a true contest.

A 55-minute break after power was cut from centre court at the Burswood Dome just delayed the inevitable result which came in just over an hour of play.

However, it was not all smooth sailing for Hewitt, who felt like he was playing with a "beach-bat" before the lights went out in the opening match of the second set.

"I couldn't hit a ball, it felt like I couldn't crack an egg out there," he said.

His problems stemmed from his racquet being restrung in an unusual style by the local tournament stringers overnight.

"The stringer put in his own string pattern which I had never seen before - and he's got some funky ideas," Hewitt said.

"Then I couldn't quite explain (how to fix) it and I kept on getting my strings (done) and they still stuffed it up.

"Actually (it was) lucky I came out after the light delay and actually had the right ones done."

Hewitt said it was an awkward match after Sanguinetti went over on his ankle.

"I wasn't sure how bad it was, there was points where he was running his butt off and there was times when I hit drop shots he didn't run for, it is tough in that situation to put an opponent away," he said.

Earlier the lanky Molik unleashed her power game on Italian Silvia Farina Elia with a straight sets victory in 69 minutes.

The 21-year-old showed why her game was so highly-rated and why she was a much more talented player than her world ranking of No.94 suggested.

After being down 3-1 in the opening set Molik found her range and made a mockery of the large gap in the rankings between her and Farina Elia.

Molik had been under pressure heading into the fixture after being picked ahead of Australia's No.1 female player and world No.48 Nicole Pratt.

Molik said she had enjoyed her best preparation for the Australian summer and the first-up win again provided reason for hope.

The South Australian said she had worked hard at increasing the potency of her ground strokes.

"It is something I have been working on hitting the ball a bit heavier .. there is a lot of kick coming off the court so I'm trying to use it to my advantage," she said.

Hewitt prepares for Hopman Cup

Posted on Thursday, December 26, 2002 - 11:17

The 2003 season of world number 1 Lleyton Hewitt begins in earnest on Sunday as the Australian leads teammate Alicia Molik against Italy at the Hopman Cup mixed team event.

Hewitt has been back in training for several weeks for the eight-nation tournament, which begins the New Year campaign on Saturday as Uzbekistan and Paraguay play a shoot-out tie for the eighth spot in the field.

Hewitt has reportedly been working out with special emphasis on weight training under the watchful eye of coach Jason Stoltenberg and a specialist fitness trainer taken on to help the 21-year-old build up stamina for the long haul.

The Aussie was pronounced in his best recent shape before Christmas by his childhood coach Peter Smith, who groomed the Adelaide player for greatness in the 1999s. "He's recharged the batteries and lifted the fitness to another level, Smith told Australian media. "There's been some serious weight work going on at the gym."

Hewitt capped a second straight season as world number 1 with a thrilling five-set win over Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain for the title at the Masters Cup in Shanghai last month. The Aussie then returned home for the first time in months and was soon joined by girlfriend Kim Clijsters, winner of the women's year-end event on the WTA Tour and also playing for Belgium at the Hopman Cup, now in its 15th edition.

Second seed Australia will play the host's traditional opener on Sunday, facing the veteran Italian pair of Davide Sanguinetti and Silvia Farina Elia. Hewitt has a score to settle in Perth, where he had to pull out mid-way through last year's competition after coming down with chicken pox which compromised his Australian Open.

Winning the home Grand Slam, to be played in Melbourne January 13-26, is a top priority for Hewitt, who has never reached the second week of the major.

Australian sensitivities have apparently been bruised by the inclusion of Molik, who is ranked 10 in the world - some 51 computer places below national women's number 1 Nicole Pratt. Pratt has grumbled that the photogenic Molik might have been included for more than just tennis reasons. "I'm disappointed not to be there, but I understand that tennis is about entertainment and they need to sell tickets," she said.

Playing in Perth for the American is the other world number 1, Serena Williams, making her debut in Western Australia. She is paired with compatriot James Blake.

Holder Spain's winning combination from last January has been broken up with the retirement of Arantxa Sanchez Vicario, leaving Tommy Robredo to team with Virginia Ruano Pascual.

Teams:
U.S., 1, Serena Williams, James Blake
Australia, 2, Alicia Molik, Lleyton Hewitt
Czech Republic, 3, Daja Bedanova, Jiri Novak
Belgium, 4, Kim Clijsters, Xavier Malisse
Italy, Silvia Farina Elia, Davide Sanguinetti
Slovak Republic, Daniela Hantuchova, Dominik Hrbaty
Spain, Virginia Ruano Pascual, Tommy Robredo
Playoff for eighth spot:
Paraguay, Rossana de Los Rios, Ramon Delgado
Uzbekistan, Iroda Tulyaganova, Oleg Ogorodov