Hewitt Destroys Henman to Take First Masters Title

March 17, 2002 03:37 PM ET
INDIAN WELLS, California (Reuters) - World number one Lleyton Hewitt trampled ninth seed Tim Henman of Britain 6-1 6-2 Sunday in the Indian Wells final to claim his first career Masters Series title.

The 21-year-old Australian was at his tenacious and ruthless best disposing of the 11th ranked Britain in just 81 minutes to collect his second consecutive tournament win this year.

He beat Andre Agassi in the San Jose final earlier this month in his first event back since a bout of chickenpox that sent him reeling during the Australian Open in January.

It was also Hewitt's 18th straight win on American soil, a run of success stretching back to his U.S. Open victory last year.

Henman entered the contest as the player with the most wins on the Tour with 20 victories this season but was completely overwhelmed by Hewitt, who has now won all four career meetings.

It was the eighth time Henman has played a current world number one, losing all eight meetings.


Hewitt routs Henman to capture Indian Wells title
March 17, 2002

INDIAN WELLS, California (Ticker) -- Only the chicken pox has managed to stop Lleyton Hewitt of Australia in 2002.

Hewitt recorded seven service breaks Sunday and demolished Tim Henman of Britain, 6-1, 6-2, to capture the men's title at the $5.05 million Pacific Life Open.

The 21-year-old Hewitt, who dropped just one set this week, won his second straight tournament and took home $392,000 in the first Tennis Masters Series event of the season.

The Adelaide native has won his last 11 matches. In his first tournament since battling chicken pox, Hewitt captured the San Jose hardcourt title two weeks ago with a triumph over Andre Agassi. He lost to Alberto Martin of Spain in the first round of the Australian Open in the midst of his illness.

Hewitt, who became the youngest player to finish the year at No. 1, won his first Indian Wells title. A year ago, he lost in the semifinals to another American, eventual champion Agassi.

Hewitt has won 33 of 37 matches since the end of August. During that stretch, he has captured five titles, including the U.S. Open and the season-ending Tennis Masters Cup.

Henman lost his second career Tennis Masters Series final. The 27-year-old also was the runner-up at Cincinnati in 2000.

The British No. 1 fell to 0-8 lifetime against the No. 1 player in the ATP entry system, having lost to Pete Sampras four times, Agassi once and Gustavo Kuerten twice.

Henman, fourth in the 2002 ATP Champions race, won the Adelaide title in January and advanced to the Rotterdam final last month.

Henman has lost all four career matches against Hewitt, including the final at the 2001 Queen's Club grasscourt tournament in London and the 2000 Scottsdale hardcourt event.

SAMPRAS NO MATCH FOR NO. 1
"Invincible" Hewitt's stretches dominance over Sampras
By Matthew Cronin
tennisreporters.net

Without question, Pete Sampras' attempt to reinvent himself as a dominant player under the watchful eyes of new coach Jose Higueras is a work in progress. But what is a bit shocking is how much work there is to do.

After Sampras was devastated 6-2, 6-4 by No. 1 Lleyton in the semifinals of the Pacific Life Open on Saturday, the 13-time Grand Slam champion said that he's feeling pretty good about his game and blamed most of his poor performance on a sand-filled swirling desert wind.

But the match was not even as close as the score and it's obvious right now that the 21-year-old Hewitt is the best player on the planet and clearly has Sampras' number. The 30-year-old Sampras – who owns the record for most years as the year-end No. 1 at six – wouldn't firmly state that Hewitt is clearly the world's top dog, which is a little surprising considering that Lleyton has viciously stomped on every elite comer over the past seven months.

"He's playing the best tennis this week, " said the prideful Sampras, who hasn't won a crown in his last 23 tournaments. "You're only as good as your last week. The way he's playing, he's playing some of the best tennis in the world."

Some? Who's even close? Not No. 2 Gustavo Kuerten, who's out for at least another 10 weeks recovering from hip surgery. Not No. 3 Yevgeny Kafelnikov, who failed in the clutch against Todd Martin in the Pacific Life quarters. Not No. 4 Juan Carlos Ferrero, who hasn't scored a significant win since November, or No. 6 Tommy Haas, who's erratic play hasn't convinced anyone that's he's in the top 10 to stay.

An argument could be made that both Andre Agassi – who won Scottsdale last week and lost a third-set tiebreaker to Hewitt two weeks ago in San Jose – and Aussie Open finalist Marat Safin are close, but Andre is still not 100 percent recovered from wrist problems and Safin is floundering without a real coach.

HEWITT HAS WON NINE OF THE LAST 10 SETS
One thing is for sure, No. 13-ranked Sampras is not that close. Hewitt has beaten Sampras four straight times and has won nine out of their 10 last sets. He returns his serve with more effectiveness than anyone, completely taking away his kick serve to the ad court with his lightening quick two-handed backhand. In the deuce court, he's more than willing to step close to the baseline and slap back Sampras' big heaters down the tee.

"You've got to take short swings," Hewitt said. "I try and attack it as much as possible. I don't like getting too far behind the baseline returning it, otherwise it would give him an extra chance to get close to the net. It's pretty much just reaction."

The Aussie has better foot speed, a far more effective backhand from the baseline and can stand toe to toe in forehand exchanges. Hewitt's serve is more effective than Sampras' return and at this point, he is mentally tougher and is thinking deeper. Sampras' only clear edge is his volley. Sure, the Sweet One can serve almost anyone off the court when he's locked in, but he gets confused about where he should be serving to Hewitt and often selects the wrong spots.

"On my return games, he's serving well enough now that it's pretty tough to control the point because he's popping in a few aces here and there," Sampras said. "I hit one short ball, he comes in. It's a lot like playing Michael Chang with a little more power. He's a great counterpuncher. He's tough to come in on. When you do come in, he has good enough wheels that he hits some great passing shots. He's one of the best returners in tennis. It's the toughest match up for me at this point in my tennis."

MATURE AND CALM
Hewitt has grown up a light year since the James Blake incident at the '01 U.S. Open. On Saturday, he didn't allow the crowd to get into the match as he didn't fist pump until the contest was over. The only time he uttered a word was early in the second set when a large triangle of courtside signage was blown over by the wind during a point and the chair umpire failed to call a let. Other than that, he was as emotionally sound as Rod Laver in his heyday. Right now, Hewitt's all-around game is so sound it's tough to figure out where he can be hurt.

"The type of player who will beat Lleyton is someone who might blow him off the court," Sampras said. "There's not many guys that can do that. There's also not many guys who can grind him down. Guys know he's mentally tough. He's very difficult to play. He fights and competes hard. ... But he is beatable. He's had a good couple last few months, but he's going to have to back it up each week. The key for Lleyton over the next six months, year, is being able to mentally go out there every time and be 100 percent. He's got to work pretty hard to win his matches."

While that certainly has been the case in the past, the 5-foot-11 sinewy-muscled Hewitt appears to be a 6-foot-6 giant these days. He's only lost one set this week (in his opening match against Andrei Pavel) and has made muscular powerballers like Jan-Michael Gambill, Thomas Enqvist and Sampras appear to be small. As TV commentator Cliff Drysdale said, Hewitt has the "walk of invincibility," something Sampras once had. The modest Hewitt said the comment was a bit "silly," but as Sampras found out on Saturday, penetrating Hewitt's defenses right now is as difficult as finding a refreshing spring shower in a blinding sandstorm.

Hewitt rolls over Sampras, faces Henman in Indian Wells final 
March 16, 2002 

INDIAN WELLS, California (Ticker) -- When Lleyton Hewitt and Pete Sampras met in the U.S. Open final last September, they played a close first set before Hewitt ran away with the match. On Saturday, there was not even a tightly contested opening set.

The top-seeded Hewitt cruised past the 10th-seeded Sampras, 6-2, 6-4, on Saturday and advanced to the final of the $5.05 million Pacific Life Open.

On Sunday, Hewitt will take on No. 9 Tim Henman of Britain, who converted all four break-point chances in his 6-3, 6-3 victory over American wild-card Todd Martin.

Later Saturday, second seed Martina Hingis of Switzerland will take on No. 18 Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia in the women's final.

Although Sampras has won two Indian Wells titles and a record 13 Grand Slam crowns, in part because of his renowned serve, Hewitt recorded four aces and never faced a break point on his serve. In contrast, the American had his serve broken four times.

The Australian extended his winning streak against the former world No. 1 to four matches.

Hewitt also made Sampras' serve look ordinary in the U.S. Open final on September 9. The Californian entered that Grand Slam final having won 87 straight service games, but Hewitt broke him in the opening game of the match and went on to a 7-6 (7-4), 6-1, 6-1 victory.

Hewitt, who became youngest player to finish the year at No. 1, reached his first Indian Wells final. A year ago, he lost in the semifinals to another American, eventual champion Andre Agassi.

The 21-year-old Hewitt has won his last 10 matches. In his first tournament since battling chicken pox, Hewitt captured the San Jose hardcourt title two weeks ago with a triumph over Agassi.

The Adelaide native has dropped just one set this week.

Hewitt has won 33 of 37 matches since the start of last year's U.S. Open. During that stretch, he has captured four titles, including the season-ending Tennis Masters Cup.

Henman advanced to his second career Tennis Masters Series final. The 27-year-old was the runner-up at Cincinnati in 2000. He also raised his career record in TMS semifinals to 2-3, having advanced to the final four at Cincinnati last year and the semifinals at Toronto and Miami in 1998.

Henman, who is fourth in the 2002 ATP Champions race, already won the Adelaide title in January and advanced to the Rotterdam final last month.

Henman improved to 4-3 edge lifetime against Martin. The British No. 1 also beat Martin in the fourth round at Wimbledon last year.

Martin reached an ATP semifinal for the first time since the 2000 U.S. Open, where he fell to eventual winner Marat Safin. The 31-year-old veteran also made the Indian Wells semifinals for the first time, having been a quarterfinalist in 1995 and 1999.

Hingis, who will move up a spot to No. 3 in the new WTA rankings released Monday, is seeking her second career Indian Wells title.

"The Swiss Miss" collected her 40th career title last month in Tokyo. The 21-year-old also won the Sydney crown in January.

Hantuchova, 18, will be contesting her first career WTA final. If she pulls off the upset against Hingis, she will become the lowest seed to win the Indian Wells title.

She also would be the lowest seed to win a Tier I tournament, eclipsing the mark of No. 14 Jelena Dokic of Yugoslavia at the 2001 Rome event.

Hewitt takes two-set win over Sampras 

By KEN PETERS
AP Sports Writer 
March 16, 2002 


INDIAN WELLS, Calif. (AP) -- Lleyton Hewitt, adjusting to the wind and blowing sand better than Pete Sampras was able to do, beat Sampras 6-2, 6-4 Saturday in the semifinals of the Pacific Life Open. 

The 21-year-old Hewitt, nine years younger than Sampras, outplayed him in every phase of the game and beat him for the fourth consecutive time -- including last year's U.S. Open final. 

The Indian Wells victory, in a match played with grit swirling in the air, gave the Australian a 5-4 edge in career meetings against Sampras. 

Hewitt, who won the San Jose tournament earlier, is 10-1 in matches this year and has lost just four of 37 matches dating to the start of the U.S. Open. 

Sampras, left looking for his first title since Wimbledon two years ago, had beaten Rainer Schuettler in two sets under similarly windy conditions the previous evening, but he was completely off his game against the top-ranked Hewitt. 

Often pausing to wipe the fine sand from around his eyes, Sampras had one more double fault -- four -- than aces, and made 30 unforced errors to Hewitt's 14. While Hewitt won 14 of his 18 points at the net, Sampras was just 29-of-49 when he went to the net. 

Hewitt closed it out with a hard forehand just beyond Sampras' reach as he came to the net -- a final Hewitt winner that was typical of the entire match. 

Sampras, currently ranked No. 13, reached the Indian Wells final a year ago, losing the title match to Andre Agassi. Agassi lost to Michel Kratochvil in the first round this year. 

3/16/02

Hewitt Again Too Tough for Sampras

Once again, Lleyton Hewitt proved he had a winning strategy to unravel Pete Sampras, even on the American's home turf. On Saturday, in the semifinals at Indian Wells, the top seeded Australian claimed his fourth straight victory against the 13-time Grand Slam champion, this time cruising 6-2, 6-4.

The semifinal was all too reminiscent of last year's US Open final, which the 22-year-old won in straight sets. Hewitt simply was too fast, consistent and punishing against his 30-year-old opponent. The last game of the match pretty much summed up the match. With Hewitt serving, Sampras plopped a shot into the net. Hewitt then hit an ace, followed by two consecutive passing shots to take the game and the match.

With the wind billowing and dust whirling through the stadium, Sampras was at a loss on how to battle the elements and a opponent who he describes as the "best wind player" in the game. He lost his serve at 1-1 in the first set and again at 4-2, and never once broke Hewitt's serve during the one hour and 23 minute affair.

"I really felt I couldn't find my bearings today," Sampras said. "My game in the wind is just a little bit vulnerable because it affects my ball toss and serve, but also add Lleyton who is a great player and loves the conditions and really adjusts his feet well - a lot better than I do."

Although Hewitt now has a 5-4 series edge against Sampras, the Australian still considers Sampras to be one of the best players in the game.

"It's a tough day to assess Pete Sampras on today's performance because he said that he's not a big fan of the wind," Hewitt said. "I don't think anyone can write him off or count him out. I've got so much respect for Pete, the way that he played those big matches against Andre [Agassi], Pat [Rafter], [Marat] Safin, everyone at [last year's] US Open. You know, he was a real credit to himself I think because I think a lot of people had written him off."

Hewitt is seeking his first Tennis Masters Series title, a feat he would very much like to accomplish. The only other time he reached a Tennis Masters Series final was in 2000 in Stuttgart, where he was defeated by Wayne Ferreira. "It's been a long time since Stuttgart when I had had a chance to beat Ferreira in the final, there. I lost in a tight five-setter. I feel like I'm a lot better player now than I was then."

Quarterfinal 
No. 1 Hewitt blows through Enqvist in straight sets
Unstoppable

INDIAN WELLS -- Lleyton Hewitt said he felt like an ordinary kind of guy at the beginning of the year.

After taking some time off after catching the chicken pox, the No. 1 player in the world has turned in some extraordinary performances on the tennis court.

Hewitt has won nine consecutive matches, including a victory in San Jose last month, and has advanced to the semifinals at the Pacific Life Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Hewitt beat Thomas Enqvist 6-4, 6-4 in Friday’s quarterfinal and afterward said he’s getting more and more confident with his game.

Enqvist, who was making his fifth appearance at Indian Wells, entered the quarterfinal with an 11-match victory streak and a 14-2 record. Hewitt ended his run and any chance at a fourth Tennis Masters Series crown.

"I feel good out there,’’ Hewitt said. "I really didn’t expect to come back and play this well and have those kind of results straight off.’’

Hewitt has lost only one set this week, that coming in his second-round match against Andrei Pavel. Since, he’s completely dominated his opponents.

"I just felt confident," he said. "I felt like I saw the ball extremely well out there today. I was reading his first serves pretty well. I was able to move the ball around."

Hewitt hasn’t had a five-set match since his returning from his layoff. He said it was difficult to sit back and watch the Australian Open (he lost in the first round) because he felt he was playing well with a good rhythm before he fell ill. Since regaining his strength, however, he has been unstoppable -- especially in the United States. He hasn’t lost here since his victory at the U.S. Open.

"I’m playing pretty well,’’ he said. "I feel like the fitness level … I haven’t played a five-set match yet but I’ve played an extremely tough final in San Jose which went three hours, that’s probably the equivalent of most five-set matches. Against Andre (Agassi in the San Jose final), I actually came out pretty well. I had stuff left in the tank."

On Friday, he said he felt even better. He had nine aces, 18 winners and posted a winning percentage on first serve points at 82 percent. On second serve points, it was 77 percent. He had 23 unforced errors to Enqvist’s 44.

"It’s hard to rate yourself where you are because some days I’ll wake up and I feel I have a lot more rhythm, playing better, seeing the ball better,’’ he said. "Today (Friday) was a lot better. I think the best match I’ve played during the week.’’

Hewitt is 5-1 against Enqvist all-time. The only time he lost to the 28-year-old Swede was in 1999 when Hewitt was defending his first victory in his hometown of Adelaide, Australia. The next year, he beat him in the final there. Since, it’s been all Hewitt.

"It’s just one of those matches that I played my game and maybe looked at a few areas of his game and it matched up well,’’ Hewitt said. "I’ve come a long way in the last couple of months. I’ve put in a lot of hours on the practice court when I was able to go out and start practicing again.

"I worked a lot in the gym, on the court, and as I said, just on the little areas of my game … trying to get the fitness level back up to where it was tough, but I felt like I was able to do it pretty soon afterward.’’

Hewitt's Roll Continues

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. -- Todd Martin, whose graying temples make him look older than his 31 years, shocked second-seeded Yevgeny Kafelnikov 7-6 (5), 6-3 Friday to move into the Pacific Life Open semifinals.
A wild card into the tournament, Martin faces ninth-seeded Tim Henman on Saturday.
Tenth-seeded Pete Sampras, who beat Rainer Schuettler 6-2, 6-4 in a wind-blown evening match, plays No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt in the other semifinal Saturday. Hewitt took a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Thomas Enqvist.
With gusts up to 30 mph whipping sand around the court and the temperature dipping to 60 degrees during the night match, Sampras still played extremely well in stretches during his victory over Schuettler.
Martin, who had not made it beyond the quarterfinals in his seven previous Indian Wells appearances, had won just two of nine career matches against the 28-year-old Kafelnikov and just one of the last eight.
But he came up big against Kafelnikov this time, breaking service both times he had the chance and turning his opponent on 10 of the 11 break point chances the Russian had.
Martin took the first-set tiebreaker by breaking away from a 5-5 tie. Kafelnikov, trying to hit the ball past Martin as the American came to the net, instead hit his backhand long. Martin then closed out the set with a backhand winner Kafelnikov had no chance to return.
After breaking Kafelnikov in the eighth game of the second set, the next game was tied at 15 when Kafelnikov hit two shots out, then Martin drilled an ace to end it.
Responding to a question about showing the "youngsters" how to do it, Martin shot back, "Come on, Yevgeny isn't that much younger than me. How much?"
Told three years, Martin nodded and said, "All right, he is younger than me."
During Hewitt's match, he took a moment to console 13-year-old Jessica Walls, a ball girl who was plunked in the face by the ball when one of his hard forehands caromed off the net post.
"I asked her if she was all right, and she said yes a couple of times," Hewitt said. "I think she was trying to hold back the tears on national TV."
Walls remained at her spot for the rest of the match and Hewitt chatted with her afterward and gave her his autograph.
Hewitt's serving made the difference in his victory. He had nine aces to Enqvist's two, and Enqvist managed to win only 10 points off Hewitt's 50 serves.
Hewitt, meanwhile, won 28 points off his opponent's 72 serves.
The victory was Hewitt's 32nd in 36 matches since the beginning of the U.S. Open last year and he's on a nine-match win streak going into the semifinals.
"I feel good out there at the moment. I feel confident," he said. "A couple of months ago, I was feeling pretty ordinary. I didn't really expect to come back and play this well and win nine matches in a row.
"Obviously, I'm getting more and more confident."
He also ran his record against Enqvist to 5-1.
"It's hard to, say, have a guy's number who is such a great player and such an explosive player," Hewitt said. "But I've definitely had the upper hand the last few meetings."
Ninth-seeded Tim Henman saved 12 of 14 breakpoints in his 6-3, 6-2 victory over Gaston Gaudio.
Henman, who moved into the semifinals against Martin, was not happy that he had so many break points, but pleased that he fought his way out of most of them.
"I take confidence out of it, but I'm also aware that I need to probably try and start the sets a little bit better than I have done," Henman said. "But if you don't always get off to the best start, you have to find a way to get into it."


Hewitt sorry after stray shot hits ballgirl
By Eleanor Preston
INDIAN WELLS, California (Reuters) - Lleyton Hewitt was quick to comfort a ballgirl after hitting her with a stray forehand during his 6-4 6-4 quarter-final win over Swede Thomas Enqvist at the $2.95 million Indian Wells Masters.


The world No. 1 may have been ruthless in his defeat of Enqvist, but he was quick to comfort Jessica Walls after he accidentally struck the 13-year-old in the face with a forehand which cannoned off the net post.


"I miscued it a little bit," said Hewitt afterwards. "It was unfortunate, with the angles, it came off and sconned her (hit her on the head)."


The Australian immediately apologised to the ballgirl and checked that she was okay before resuming the match.


"I just asked her how she was," explained Hewitt. "She looked like she had a delayed reaction a little bit. First off when it had hit her, I don't think she realised quite what had happened, then she probably felt the pain.


"I think she was trying to hold back the tears on national TV."

Brave Jessica, despite sporting a bright red mark where the ball hit her on the chin, resumed her duties for the rest of the match.

Hewitt look time to meet the local teenager in the Players Centre afterwards and signed a hat for her.

Hewitt surprised by his recovery
By Eleanor Preston

INDIAN WELLS, California (Reuters) - It has been a strange few months for Lleyton Hewitt.


After ending last year on a high, winning the Masters Cup and capturing the world No. 1 ranking, the Australian spent the first few weeks of 2002 lying on his sickbed, stricken with chickenpox.


But Hewitt has been on top form since recovering, winning his last eight matches, including his 6-2 6-4 third round victory over American Jan-Michael Gambill at the $2.95 million Indian Wells Masters.


"It's a bit of a surprise," said the 21-year-old after earning a place in the quarter-finals of the first Masters Series event of the year.


"If I go back to how I was feeling before the Australian Open (in January), I was feeling pretty ordinary. Lying on the couch, on your bed, in the hotel room because you're a danger to everyone. I've come a long way in the last couple of months."


As soon as he was given the all-clear by his doctors, Hewitt and his coach Jason Stoltenberg began his rehabilitation, working out in the gym to rebuild his strength and clocking up hours on the practice court.


"Trying to get the fitness level back was tough but I felt I was able to do it pretty soon afterwards. It definitely stood me in good stead."


Hewitt is so pleased with his recovery that he may consider taking more time off in the future to allow his body to recover from the rigours of playing week in, week out.


"In some ways it's good when I take that week off," he said. "The break definitely helps in some ways, you know maybe you're a bit tougher towards the sharp end of the tournament."


Hewitt's quarter-final opponent, Swede Thomas Enqvist, will be anxious to prove him wrong.

Hewitt cruises, Sampras struggles
Top seed Lleyton Hewitt cruised into the quarter-finals of the Tennis Masters Series tournament in Indian Wells, California, once again leaving a frustrated Jan-Michael Gambill in his wake.

Australia's Hewitt, who finished 2001 as the youngest year-end World No.1, beat the unseeded American 6-2 6-4.


The frustration was all on Gambill's side, and Hewitt said he recognised it as early as the first game.

"In the first game he was up 30-love, he hit two bombs," Hewitt said.

"I got back to 30-all. I could already see the frustration on his face. It's a good feeling.

"I'm trying to concentrate as much as possible on my game, but if you can look over the net and see him getting frustrated at such an early point, maybe he's thinking about the last match we played a couple of weeks ago in San Jose."

Hewitt ousted Gambill in the semi-finals en route to the title at San Jose.

After taking a week off, he is playing his third tournament of the year following a bout of chicken pox which disrupted his early season.

"I've come a long way," Hewitt said.

"The last couple of months I've put in a lot of hours on the practice court ... worked a lot in the gym.

"Trying to get that fitness level back up to where it was was tough, but I felt like I was able to do it."

Hewitt next plays Sweden's Thomas Enqvist, who beat Switzerland's Roger Federer 6-4 6-3.

Pete Sampras struggled past unseeded French veteran Fabrice Santoro 6-3 3-6 7-5.

Sampras, seeded 10th and seeking his first tournament title since Wimbledon 2000, served for the match at 5-2 in the third only to have Santoro surge back to 5-5.

"He's a magician," Sampras said.

"He gives a lot of guys problems, including myself. I thought I had him on the ropes there a little bit, and he came up with some good stuff on some break points.

"Conditions weren't easy tonight, a little bit cool and a little bit breezy."

Sampras held for 6-5 then broke Santoro in the final game when the Frenchman double faulted on match point - only his second double fault of the match.

Sampras said he would need to serve and volley better in his quarter-final against unseeded German Rainer Schuettler, a 6-2 6-2 winner over Chilean Marcelo Rios.

Ninth seeded Briton Tim Henman advanced with a 7-6 (7-3) 6-4 victory over seventh seed Marat Safin of Russia.

Like Hewitt, Henman benefited from his opponent's frustration.

"With Marat everyone knows he's got a tremendous amount of talent ... he's also susceptible to down moments in a match," Henman said.

Up a break and serving for the first set at 5-4, Safin dropped his serve to give Henman an opening.

"I played a really good tiebreaker," Henman said.

"He gave me an opportunity to get back in that set."

In the second, Henman finally earned a break in the ninth to lead 5-4.

Hewitt in quarters
From our wire services
News Interactive
15mar02

INDIAN WELLS, California: Top seed Lleyton Hewitt has powered his way into the quarter-finals of the Masters Series here, mowing down American Jan-Michael Gambill 6-2 6-4.

Playing in only his second event since being forced to take a pause of six weeks to cure chicken pox, Hewitt remained unflustered by the difficult winds.

While today's conditions were nothing like the dust storms which raked the area yesterday – forcing two weather interruptions – playing in the elements was still a challenge.

Hewitt was joined in the final eight by second seed Yevgeny Kafelnikov, who found himself tested before pulling out a 7-6 (10-8) 6-4 victory over Argentine Juan Chela.

The South American has overcome the time off court and ranking points lost from a three-month drug ban which he served last year, rising more than 700 places in the ATP list on the back of six lower-level Challenger event victories in late 2001.

Kafelnikov has won 24 titles but has lost all five of the Masters Series trophies he has played for, the last at Paris Bercy in November.

Swede Thomas Enqvist continued his hoodoo over Roger Federer, knocking out the Swiss 12th seed 6-4 6-3. The win improves Enqvist's record in the series to 3-0 including a victory in the Basel final of 2000
Rd 3 Top Seed Hewitt Rolls Past Gambill

Displaying the form that catapulted him to the top of the men's game, top seed Lleyton Hewitt rolled past American Jan-Michael Gambill on Thursday, committing only 12 unforced errors en route to his 6-2, 6-4 victory at the Pacific Life Open.

Although Gambill had won three of their previous five meetings, Hewitt was unstoppable in this third-round meeting at Indian Wells, breaking Gambill's serve three times and slamming winners past the struggling American. Gambill, who called for the trainer during the match, was off his game, committing 36 errors during the match.

In Friday's quarterfinals, Hewitt, who reached the semifinals here last year, will meet Thomas Enqvist of Sweden. Enqvist pulled off a straight-set victory over Roger Federer in other third-round action.

Rd 2 Survivor series: No. 1 Hewitt adapts to heavy winds for victory

By Patti Myers
The Desert Sun March 14th, 2002

INDIAN WELLS -- Lleyton Hewitt said he would have liked to play a few holes of golf following his morning match with Andrei Pavel at the Pacific Life Open. Hewitt also considered a run to In-N-Out burger for lunch.

Yet when Wednesday’s wind and sandstorm whipped through the Coachella Valley and into Indian Wells Tennis Garden, Hewitt decided to skip the golf and dine in and kick back.

Hewitt had just finished battling the elements both on and off the court and wanted nothing more to do with Mother Nature.

During Hewitt’s second-round match with Pavel at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, the 21-year-old Australian emerged in three sets to capture a 4-6, 6-3, 6-0 victory in the Pacific Life Open.

The No. 1 player in the world, who is coming off victory in San Jose two weeks ago, was happy to escape the conditions after drawing the first match of the day. Hewitt said it ranked with some of the worst conditions in which he’s ever played.

"You have to adjust your game,’’ said Hewitt, who is making his fifth consecutive appearance in the desert. "You don’t try to pound winners, left, right and center. You have to try and play smart, play within yourself a little bit.’’

After he finished his match, play on all five outside courts at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, was suspended for approximately one hour. The stadium court was not affected as much, however, and the women’s quarterfinal match between Monica Seles and Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario was played as scheduled (Seles won in three sets, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3). Play resumed for all other matches approximately an hour after the suspension.

Four matches were completed earlier in the morning session, including the Hewitt-Pavel match, but the second matches on all outside courts were halted. Fans watching the outside matches quickly moved to stadium court to catch Seles versus Sanchez-Vicario.

"I don’t think too many matches are going to be too pretty out there,’’ said Hewitt, who has won 14 consecutive matches in the United States dating back to last year’s U.S. Open tournament. "You’ve just got to try to hang in there as much as you can and adapt your game. It’s basically ugly.

"You’re not really worried about playing with too much rhythm out there. You’re just trying to find a way to win for yourself. I just wasn’t confident going out there and hitting the ball straight up. ’’

Hewitt said everything changed in his game because of the conditions.

"It felt like a breeze was coming straight down the court,’’ said Hewitt, who advanced to the semifinal here last year (a three-set loss to Andre Agassi). "The court is on a little bit of a slope, as well. Especially up on the far end (where) I was playing, it felt like if you couldn’t win your two games up the end with the breeze, you were starting behind the eight-ball right away.’’

Rd 2 Hewitt Fights Off Pavel Amid Sand Storm

With sand swirling in the backdrop and winds gusting at 40 mph, Lleyton Hewitt brushed off a first-set loss to defeat Andrei Pavel of Romania 4-6, 6-3, 6-0 in second-round play at Indian Wells. Hewitt rallied back just in time; by the final game of the match, but players were wiping sand from their eyes, obviously jarred by the unpredictable desert conditions. 


Just as in his first round match, the No. 1 seed struggled early in the match. The Australian lost his serve early in the first set, and although he broke back, he made careless errors while serving at 4-5, allowing last year's Tennis Masters Series Canada champion to take the set. 

By the second set, however, it was clear Hewitt had regrouped and had no intention of exiting the tournament early. He broke Pavel early in the set to take a 3-0 lead. As the sand turned the skies a murky white, Hewitt continued to pressure the Romanian on his serve, and easily closed out the match. 

After, Hewitt said he was glad to get off the court before the conditions worsened. "I don't think too many matches today are going to be too pretty out there," he said. "It's tough conditions. You've just got to try to hang in there as much as you can and adapt your game. It's basically playing ugly and trying to get through today." 

Last year's year-end World No. 1 said he struggled particularly with the wind early in the match. The 21-year-old said Wednesday's match might have been the most difficult conditions he's ever played in. "Today and a match back then at [the US Open] were the two, the worst conditions I've had to play through," he said. "You can't try to pound winners left, right and center. You have to try and play smart, play within yourself a little bit." 

Hewitt, who captured the title in San Jose this year, meets either Jiri Novak or Jan-Michael Gambill in the next round. Although he now has a 7-1 record for the season, this is only his third event of the year. Early in the season, Hewitt was weakened with a bout of the Chicken Pox. 

Hewitt looking every bit the No. 1 player in the world
By Rick Davis
The Desert Sun March 12th, 2002

INDIAN WELLS -- Lleyton Hewitt’s confidence on the tennis court is seldom shaken. Yet gaining the No. 1 ranking on the ATP Tour apparently has nudged the 21-year-old Australian’s assuredness even higher.

On Monday afternoon, for instance, Hewitt squared off against former ATP-ranked No. 1 Carlos Moya in the opening round of the Pacific Life Open and took care of business in 92 minutes.

In advancing to round of 32 at Indian Wells Tennis Garden, Hewitt won 6-4, 6-4. While it certainly was no rout, Hewitt seemed in no danger of losing.

"It’s nice to know you’re able. Toward the end of last year, I played so many big matches," said Hewitt, in assessing his rise to No. 1 in 2001. "In most of them, I was able to win the big matches. I’ve got a lot of confidence going in, no matter who I’m playing, no matter what surface I’m on. I feel I can play my game and match it with anyone in the world."

In disposing of the 25-year-old Moya, who held the No. 1 ranking for two weeks in March 1999, Hewitt served eight aces, earned points on nine of 10 approaches to the net and converted 80 percent of his first-serve points. It seemed inconsequential he double-fauled seven times.

Moya managed two service breaks, but Hewitt broke back four times.

"I was trying to get my control early on. Once I got it, I felt I played a pretty good second half of the first set," Hewitt said.

Hewitt is coming off a year in which he won six ATP tournamnents, including the U.S. Open, and more than $4 million in prize money. He became the youngest player (20 years, 10 months) to finish No. 1, dropping Jimmy Connors (22 years, 3 months) to No. 2.

The Indian Wells stop is only Hewitt’s third in 2002. He opened the year by losing to unheralded Alberto Martin in the first round of the Australian Open. A bout with chicken pox before Melbourne affected his game.

"I pretty much lost what I had gained through the end of the year," said the lean, 5-foot-11 Hewitt, who’s working on gaining back 10 pounds to reach 150 again. "I went back to basics and strength work. It’s been gradual, but I feel now as if I could go five sets."

In improving his record to 7-4 in five appearances at Indian Wells, Hewitt defeated Moya for the second time in three career meetings. Moya, in fact, has fared better here than Hewitt, having reached the singles final in ’99, when he lost to Mark Philippoussis in five sets. Hewitt’s best showing in the desert was last year when he lost to Pete Sampras in the semifinals.

"These Masters Series tournaments are extremely tough," Hewitt said. "It’s a small draw, but everyone comes and plays this one. Sometimes on the clay courts, not all the top players go over and play. Here, you take it one match at a time and try to get through six matches."

On Monday, Hewitt seemed comfortable on the Indian Wells stadium hard court. A crowd of more than 8,000 cheered his quickness and ability to run down Moya’s offerings.

"I like the American hard courts," he said. "It suits my game, my style of play. I like the American crowds, too. They get very fired up with a lot of emotion. That’s the kind of tennis I like to play. Get out there and get pumped up with emotion."

Australian Hewitt does’t have big weapon, just big heart
Defying conventional wisdom

By Leighton Ginn
The Desert Sun March 10, 2002

INDIAN WELLS -- There is a photo circulating around that is more than 10 years old of Australian tennis great Mark Woodforde signing autographs for children.

What makes the photo unique is the young boy in the picture -- it is a young Lleyton Hewitt.

"It was me signing a photo and giving it to Lleyton, and he was very tiny," said Woodforde, a part-time Rancho Mirage resident. "It was ’88 or ’89. I didn’t know it was Lleyton Hewitt per se."

Hewitt has been on a quick rise to the top of the tennis world, becoming an unlikely No. 1. Conventional wisdom says top players are big with big weapons, in the mold of Pete Sampras or Marat Safin. Hewitt defies conventional wisdom -- he is 5-foot-11, 150-pounds, and doesn’t have that one big weapon people fear.

If you’re going to play Hewitt, however, you better be ready to go the distance.

"People have to realize he’s not going to give in," Australian legend Rod Laver said. "They’re going to have a fight on their hands."

So while everyone on the ATP tour tries to go with power, Hewitt uses patience and persistence fueled by heart and desire.

"Lleyton doesn’t out-hit everyone, he out-patiences them," Woodforde said. "He sets a web and everyone seems to get caught in the trap he sets for you."

Rocky

One aspect of Hewitt’s personality that has gotten a lot of play is his love for the movie "Rocky."

"Yeah, I used to watch the Rocky movies all the time," said Hewitt, who won his first Grand Slam title last year -- the U.S. Open. "It’s just a great story. That sort of underdog, coming from behind.

"Just the whole training and that, it really suited my image and my philosophy on going out there and playing tennis. I love to work hard on and off the court in my training. I think that sort of comes through for most Rocky movies."

Much like Rocky Balboa, Hewitt is an athlete no one thought would be a big-time champion, including someone who followed his career since he was a junior -- Woodforde.

Woodforde never met Hewitt until Hewitt was 16 and playing on the Davis Cup team. Woodforde knew about him, however, because of his mother, who ran tournaments in Adelaide, Australia.

"When I came back to Adelaide, I would ask about the top juniors, and she would point out Hewitt," Woodforde said. "She would say he’s a good player, fiery and tenacious. But his behavior on the court is not equal ... he had bad behavior. But he had good results and he won the tournaments."

At 16, Hewitt played in the ATP event in Adelaide, and Woodforde helped him out. By that time, Hewitt had become the youngest qualifier in Australian Open history, losing in the first round to Sergi Bruguera.

"He invited me out to hit with all the guys. He got me hitting with all the other Australians," Hewitt said. "At that time you’re going to be shy, a 16-year-old, trying to go up to these guys, asking for practice sessions every day. Woody really did go out of his way to help me set up those practice sessions."

In hindsight, it might not have been a good idea for Woodforde, as Hewitt beat him in the second round en route to a tournament title in which he became the lowest-ranked winner in tour history at 550. Hewitt beat Scott Draper, Vincent Spadea, Andre Agassi and Jason Stoltenberg in that tournament.

"That tells you something right there," Laver said. "He knew at a young age what he wanted to be, he worked hard with an admirable effort and he’s become a great Australian player. He will go down in the books with all the great Australian players."

Tough comparison

On the court, Hewitt is an emotional player whose play sometimes turns off Australian tennis fans. Woodforde thinks it’s because Hewitt was in the shadow of two-time U.S. Open champion Patrick Rafter.

"He was considered the Golden Boy who never did anything wrong. If he did, he would turn the event around and come out smelling like roses," Woodforde said of Rafter. "Unfortunately with Lleyton, if he speaks out or is unhappy with a line call or tries to stir himself on, it is perceived to be the wrong thing to do, his behavior is not good. He had a tough time with it."

Hewitt said he didn’t mind being in Rafter’s shadow, because the spotlight went elsewhere allowing Hewitt to just play.

"I wasn’t the focus point of Australian tennis, with Patrick Rafter and Mark Philippoussis, so I was sort of the No. 2 or No. 3 player on the team," Hewitt said. "That wasn’t a problem for me at all. I feel like some of that pressure may have even been taken off."

One fan who always has been loyal to Hewitt has been Laver.

Whenever Laver is asked about the top men’s players coming up, Hewitt is usually the first one out of his mouth.

"He’s for real and he’s great for the game," Hewitt [sic: Laver] said. "It’s fun to watch him play and he really cares if he wins or loses."