Virus floors Hewitt as US Open looms
Leo Schlink
11aug05
Herald Sun

LLEYTON Hewitt's US Open preparation has been compromised by illness amid concerns the world No. 3 will be short of match practice approaching the year's final grand slam.

Hewitt yesterday retired when trailing French qualifier Florent Serra 4-3 in the Montreal Masters opening round.

Seeded second in the absence of Roger Federer, Hewitt hoped to build form and confidence this week before transferring to Cincinnati.

But his plans were shattered by a persistent virus that restricted him to eating only one bowl of soup in three days.

"I've had some kind of stomach virus for the last few days," Hewitt said.

"It just got worse. I haven't been able to eat anything the last three or four days, which just really hit me because I've got no energy. With the heat today, it just felt like I had nothing out there."

Hewitt's coach Roger Rasheed said Hewitt had considered withdrawing from the tournament.

The South Australian has been on medication for the past five days and has been ordered not to fly to the US until his health improves.

"We are just going to lay low until Friday and try and get the virus out of his system," Rasheed said.

"There will be no flying until that happens, but we're oping to get to Cincinnati on Friday.

"Lleyton was able to hit for only half an hour since we arrived here, so I always knew he was going to struggle.

"We didn't want to let the tournament down by pulling out and we were always hopeful of his condition improving.

"I was surprised he played seven games. I didn't think he would last that many."

The Cincinnati Masters is the last scheduled event for Hewitt before the US Open starts on August 29.

But he might take a wildcard into the event at New Haven, Connecticut, the week before the New York major begins.

"If he needs a solid training week, that's what we will do. If he needs matches, and there is an opportunity to go to New Haven, we could do that," Rasheed said.

Hewitt Ready For Rogers Cup Return
By Ronald Green
08/09/2005

As a tactician, Lleyton Hewitt has a well-earned reputation as one of tennis' top thinkers, but when the second-seeded Hewitt steps on court in his return to tennis at this week's Rogers Cup in Montreal, he will be drawing a blank.

Hewitt, whose clothing and shoe contract with Nike was not renewed, will not be wearing any brand name on his shirt or shoes, but he will be wearing the wedding band placed on his ring finger by new bride Bec Cartwright during their July 21st wedding in Sydney.

In a chat session with ESPN.com today, Hewitt said he does not expect his marriage and impending fatherhood — the couple are expecting their first child in November — to have an immediate impact on his schedule.

"Priorities might change a bit, but my scheduling will still revolve around the majors and the Davis Cup," Hewitt said.

Both Hewitt and his younger sister Jaslyn gravitated toward tennis from childhood, but the man who was the youngest Australian Open qualifier in history at the age of 15 years, 11 months, said he won't insist his children pursue tennis.

"I wouldn't be pushing them in that direction, but whatever they grow into would be fine with me," Hewitt said. "I just want them to enjoy it."

World No. 1 Roger Federer has prevented Hewitt from drawing much pleasure from their meetings on court. The Swiss stylist has scored eight straight victories over the former No. 1, including five consecutive straight-sets wins. Increasingly, watching Hewitt try to hang with Federer in a match is like trying to watch a man just mastering a new language win a debate against a linguist with a limitless vocabulary in all languages — Federer always has the final word.

Though he is only two spots behind Federer in the rankings, Hewitt conceded closing the gap on Federer has been as easy as swimming the English Channel in a strait jacket. Asked if he has spotted any area of vulnerability in Federer's game, Hewitt replied "Not yet!"

"Obviously he is the best player going around at the moment," Hewitt said. "I think it's important to get to a good start with him because he is such a great frontrunner."

Though he has winning records against every member of the top 10 except Federer, Marat Safin (5-6), Andre Agassi (4-4) and Gaston Gaudio (3-3), Hewitt admits regaining the top spot is an improbable aim as long as Federer is still playing.

"I think I can (get back to No. 1) but it keeps getting harder and harder," Hewitt said. "Federer is such a great player, it will be tough for anyone to take it away from him."

Hewitt's former Davis Cup captain John Newcombe and former Wimbledon winner Pat Cash are among several Aussies who have advocated the two-time Grand Slam champion adopt a more aggressive game-plan against Federer. Hewitt has an underrated serve and is a competent volleyer, but the man who partnered Max Mirnyi to claim the 2000 U.S. Open doubles title said he will only attack net selectively.

"I'm not going to do it every point, but I probably will throw it in to add another dimension to my game," Hewitt said. "But it's hard to practice and then not use it in the match. For now, I'm staying at the baseline mostly."

Seeded second in Montreal, Hewitt will take on qualifier Florent Serra in his first ATP tournament match since Wimbledon.

Top-seeded Rafael Nadal meets his mentor, former No. 1 Carlos Moya, in a highly-anticipated first-round Montreal match. The reigning Roland Garros champion showcased his hard-court skills in reaching the round of 16 at the Australian Open in January where he held a two sets to one lead against Hewitt before falling, 7-5, 3-6, 1-6, 7-6, 6-2. Nadal went on to reach the Nasdaq-100 Open final on Key Biscayne where he was on the verge of ousting Federer for the second straight year before the five-time Grand Slam champion rallied for a 2-6, 6-7(4), 7-6(5), 6-3, 6-1 victory. Hewitt, who holds a 3-0 record against Nadal, said the second-ranked Spaniard will be a threat on all surfaces as he matures.

"He's a great player. He's going to have a long career, no doubt," Hewitt said of Nadal. "He loves the big matches and handles himself very well. He will learn to play better and better on other courts."

The 2001 U.S. Open champion has reached the Flushing Meadows quarterfinals or better in five of his six trips to the season's final Grand Slam, including a runner-up finish to Federer last year.

"I feel really good about the Open. It's one of my favorite tournaments," Hewitt said. "I feel very comfortable in New York."