Hewitt sizzles, Scud sniffles

07aug03

LLEYTON Hewitt has missed a possible clash with his Australian Davis Cup teammate Mark Philippoussis, who yesterday withdrew from the $3.8 million Montreal Masters.

Fifth seed Hewitt needed just 51 minutes to defeat American qualifier Bob Bryan 6-2 6-2 and advance to the second round.
But Philippoussis's US Open preparation was interrupted when he withdrew before his first-round clash with Max Mirnyi after coming down with flu.

The Wimbledon finalist reached the semis in Los Angeles last week but said he felt ill after arriving in Montreal on Monday.

"Doctors told me to rest for a few days," Philippoussis said.

Hewitt will now meet Mirnyi, who defeated Philippoussis's replacement, Nicolas Massu of Chile, 6-4 7-6 (7-4).

Hewitt has moved up two spots to 13th in the 2003 ATP Champions Race after reaching the final in Los Angeles. He needs a strong US hardcourt season to get into contention to defend the title he has won for the past two years at the season-ending Tennis Masters Cup.

Meanwhile, injury finally caught up with Wayne Ferreira, the South African veteran who beat Hewitt in the LA final, despite struggling with a groin strain during the week. He retired hurt after dropping the first set 6-4 to Zimbabwe's Wayne Black.

Wimbledon champion Roger Federer lived dangerously before clinching a 6-4 3-6 7-5 victory over Argentine Gaston Gaudio.

The third seed came back from a break down in the third set and eventually won on his first match point. He faced treble break points early in the final set.

"Those were basically a match point," Federer said.

French Open champion Juan Carlos Ferrero ousted Frenchman Cyril Saulnier 6-4 6-4.

"It's important and shows that I'm playing well," the second seed said. "I'm maintaining my level for week after week. I want to keep doing that and try to remain No. 1 at the end of the season."

American Andy Roddick fought back for a 3-6 6-0 6-2 win over Xavier Malisse.

Sixth seed Roddick, who has earned 40 match wins this season for the third consecutive year, was winning his seventh straight match against the pony-tailed Belgian.

The victory puts Roddick, who lifted the Indianapolis title last month, into a second-round clash against Argentine Juan Chela.

Monday's finalists in Washington suffered contrasting fates. Washington champion Tim Henman went through over 14th seed Fernando Gonzalez as the Chilean retired with a knee problem after losing the first set 6-2.

Henman beat Gonzalez for the title in the US capital.

AFP

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Fitzgerald predicts Hewitt's tide is about to turn

August 7, 2003

Australia's Davis Cup captain, John Fitzgerald, believes former world No.1 Lleyton Hewitt is well and truly on the rebound following his early exit from Wimbledon.

Hewitt, a finalist in Los Angeles last week, needed just 51 minutes on Tuesday to defeat American qualifier Bob Bryan 6-2, 6-2 in the first round of the Montreal Masters.

Fitzgerald said it was a sign of good things to come from Hewitt ahead of the US Open and next month's Davis Cup semi-final against Switzerland.

"I expect he'll do well this week, and I expect he'll do well in the US Open," Fitzgerald said from the Gold Coast. "You have ebbs and flows, and I think he's going to play some good tennis over the US summer."

Fitzgerald said Hewitt, who is seeded fifth in Montreal, was showing the character needed to move back up the world rankings.

"There's only one way to go when you are No.1," the Davis Cup captain said. "You are going to lose matches - that's going to happen - but you've got to be able to bounce back."

Fitzgerald said Mark Philippoussis and Hewitt were both excited about playing Switzerland at Melbourne Park.

"Every time I talk to Lleyton he talks about the Davis Cup, and I think Mark's incredibly excited about playing in front of his home town," he said.

Philippoussis's US Open preparation was interrupted when he withdrew before his Montreal first-round clash with Max Mirnyi after coming down with influenza.

The Wimbledon finalist reached the semi-finals in Los Angeles last week but said he felt ill after arriving in Montreal.

"Doctors told me to rest for a few days," Philippoussis said.

Hewitt, who has moved up two spots to 13th in the ATP Champions Race after reaching the final in Los Angeles, will meet the winner of Mirnyi and Philippoussis's replacement, Nicolas Massu of Chile.