Lleyton's chance to return serve
25aug03
Daily Telegraph
TENNIS is like boxing with implements.
Two men lock on to each other mentally and physically and probe from both sides
looking for the opening for the big shot.
Champions come and go, new titles awarded every week. But only the elite few
last the distance to be recognised as the true champions of their eras.
The others can look as fast and flash as anybody until suddenly they lose focus
and start getting tagged. The sight of them staggering wafts the scent of blood
into contenders. The taste of their own blood turns their gristle to jelly. Many
disappear quickly, some soon become punching bags.
And so the tennis world looks at Lleyton Hewitt, former No. 1, on the slide at
the age of 22 going into the US Open, suddenly losing TKO's to nobodies, and
with no big punches of his own to reassert himself, seemingly no more easy
knockouts.
A fighter with a lost aura. Some predicted that this could happen. He never got
the growth spurt he needed. If there was to be a movie of his life it would be
Run Lleyton Run. Until you fast run out of legs.
Now the feet don't seem to think for themselves, the balletic footwork eroded.
The serve continues to wobble. He retreats further behind the baseline. He
doesn't move into court so fearlessly – like his role model Andre Agassi –
and take the ball early.
The ball doesn't ping off the strings as sweetly. He labours. Even strong
supporters like John Newcombe fret that he has become too conservative, playing
not to lose.
He seems to have lost that ferocious pit bull will to win that saw him become
the world's youngest ever No. 1 and in two glorious years win two Grand Slams
and two Tennis Masters Cups.
He has scaled back his schedule as if to acknowledge that his body and legs can
only take so much. His win in the TMC in Shanghai last November was so
extraordinarily brave – fighting his way past crisis after crisis on willpower
alone – that it was enough to gut much stronger men.
Now the retrospective wisdom of some critics has slotted him into a lull in the
men's game – the end of the Pete Sampras-Agassi era. He sneaked in before Andy
Roddick and Roger Federer were quite ready. Now he could go over the precipice
and disappear completely.
It can happen to baseline grinders. In 1988 Mats Wilander, at 24, won three
Grand Slams and finished the year No. 1. He played for another eight years,
never won another, never made the top ten again.
Jim Courier, short on natural talent but with a massive work ethic, had won
three Grand Slams by 1993, at the age of 23, and spent 58 weeks as No. 1. But
with his jolting game worked out he faded to perennial contender within a couple
of years.
Now his off-court controversies – suing the ATP, dumping two fine coaches,
muttering about giving it away and playing AFL – seem to have sapped Hewitt's
on-court concentration.
But if he needs a quick reminder of how it once was, a tape of his 2001 US Open
win over Sampras, 7-6 6-1 6-1 in less than two hours, one of the most
extraordinary matches of the modern era, should be an inspiration.
It could almost be a template for the rest of his career. Steady as she goes.
Stay on the rails. Play the percentages. Stay in the game. Don't panic.
By that stage Hewitt seemed to have finally matured beyond the screaming
cap-backwards precocious punk of the game to stone cold killer.
This was Pete's home turf. The "Pete" hoots echoed around the Arthur
Ashe cauldron like drunken moose calls. After a 15-month drought the man with
the deadliest weapon in the history of the game was back.
He had disposed of three former champions, Pat Rafter, Agassi, and Marat Safin
in succession to muscle into the final as an unbackable favourite. His serve was
in the zone. He had held it for 87 straight games.
Hewitt, who had survived a raging five setter with Roddick and then trounced
Yevgeny Kafelnikov, broke him immediately, returning brilliantly at Pete's feet.
But then he double-faulted twice to be broken himself and the crowd sighed in
relief. But it was the last sign of nerves from the poker-faced youngster.
The wind had forced Sampras to cut back the power on his serve and stay with
rhythm and he had only three aces in the first set as he went into the
tie-breaker with the big gun making him odds-on. It seemed that with his own
serve so dominant all he had to do was attack Hewitt's second.
But the wind had also forced Hewitt to sacrifice pace for consistency on serve
– and he had the advantage in the rallies.
But Sampras dropped his first service point to a great return. Hewitt
double-faulted to give away his advantage. But a backhand pass put him back in
front, and after Hewitt retrieved two booming forehands Sampras put a backhand
volley long and Hewitt had it 7-4.
Suddenly Sampras had his head down as he prowled the baseline like a bear with a
migraine. The fourth game of the second went to four deuces before he was broken
again. After that it was like watching gadgets fall off a Rolls Royce as Sampras
disintegrated. Hewitt remained expressionless until one more Sampras error and
he fell flat on his back in victory – but was up quickly to shake with the
great man.
"What is it Lleyton can't do?" crowed commentator Mark Woodforde.
Apparently, keep it up. But with that day in his memory bank who could deny
Hewitt the chance to start the great climb back this week?
Hewitt's blame, set and match
From AP
August 23, 2003
LLEYTON HEWITT is under siege.
The pugnacious South Australian has been stalked by anonymous enemies,
undermined by powerful forces, abandoned by form and targeted by every male
tennis player on the world circuit.
David versus Goliath has taken an unexpected turn and the odds he can fight all
and sundry to win the US Open, starting in two days, are long.
For the formerly indestructible Hewitt, this is his last chance to rescue a
disastrous 2003.
In practice this week in New York he was hitting the ball as sweetly as ever.
He joined Mark Philippoussis in Florida last week and looked like a man in
control of his destiny. Not that too much should be read into that.
Before Wimbledon, Hewitt carved up his fellow countryman in practice only to be
bumped out in the first round by the 203rd-ranked Ivo Karlovic.
It was a historic defeat.
A month later he was beaten in the final of the low-key Mercedes-Benz Cup by
Wayne Ferreira.
A second-round defeat the following week at Montreal was followed by a
first-round defeat at Cincinnati. All this in the past four weeks.
To compound the pressure of the form slump, Hewitt will take on the Association
of Tennis Professionals in the South Australian Supreme Court straight after the
US Open.
Hewitt says the ATP has maliciously damaged his standing and, in the process,
stolen his love of the game.
According to Camp Hewitt, the ATP has stalked and harassed him for years.
In papers filed at the Supreme Court, Hewitt claims in 2002 a "male person
who did not initially identify himself but who was a representative of the
company engaged by the ATP to conduct out-of-competition drug testing on ATP
players" approached him.
This character allegedly attempted to trick the tennis player into signing a
document which could have led to a two-year ban.
Hewitt says it is part of a pattern of behaviour.
In 1998, the ATP suspended him for three months for not going to ATP university,
in 1999 they threatened to withdraw a wild-card entry to play Key Biscayne,
Florida, in 2001 its media officer "coerced Hewitt to undertake an
interview that was subsequently found to be inappropriate", that is, with a
soft porn magazine.
The final straw was a $193,065 fine reduced to $157,711 on appeal for not doing
an ESPN interview at the Cincinnati Masters in August last year.
Hewitt claims this last act led to him losing $US1 million in international
endorsements and sponsorship contracts, $500,0000 in the same for Australia and
was "likely to sustain irreparable damage to his professional and personal
reputations".
All up, it has cost Hewitt about $2.5m and he wants the money back.
More significantly, the court papers claim Hewitt's "enjoyment in playing
tennis has diminished".
It remains to be seen if he can get that back.
Of course, he is not totally alone in the battle.
Glynn Hewitt, his father, has the ATP in his sights and warned them his boy
would give the organisation "the biggest sledging ever" should he be
forced to do certain interviews in Florida.
Former Wimbledon champions Boris Becker and Ashley Cooper plus others have begun
to wonder aloud if Hewitt's parents play too great a role in his life.
Lleyton travels with his family – Glynn Hewitt acts as financial adviser while
his wife Cherilyn advises on diet and fitness.
Hewitt Snr dismissed the critics as "jealous".
"It's at times like these when you find out who your true friends
are," Glynn Hewitt told the Adelaide Advertiser.
His father is said to be behind the lawsuit which was filed a week before
Wimbledon and will be heard a week after the US Open.
In another move which stunned the tennis world, Camp Hewitt parted ways with
coach Jason Stoltenberg just two weeks before Wimbledon.
South Australian Roger Rasheed, a journeyman player and Hewitt's fitness
adviser, took over as coach.
John Newcombe said at the time he was surprised that the change of coach, and
the lawsuit, coincided with Hewitt's defence of his Wimbledon title.
With Rasheed on board, Hewitt's form has spiralled. He won a title at Indian
Wells in March and even that was an exception to the rule.
He was blaming his legs and not his coach at the Cincinnati Masters this month.
"I didn't feel great out there," Hewitt said. "I don't know why .
. . it was my legs."
The ATP, the legs, the strange bloke in Zurich, the poor form . . . in a
perverse way all these negatives are just the sort of preparation Hewitt needs
going into a major.
"He's a counter-puncher," Davis Cup captain John Fitzgerald said.
"You can't write him off."
Mark Woodforde, who is in the US this week to call the open for Channel Nine,
says Hewitt's form slump is only to be expected. After all, everybody is gunning
for the guy who was number one in the world two years running.
"It's a tough world out there," Woodforde told The Weekend Australian
yesterday. "There are a lot of guys out there that see Lleyton Hewitt as a
prime target. They want to kick him, they want to beat him and Lleyton has to
work hard in every match he plays. And over the summer he's come up a bit
short."
While Hewitt says the ATP court action is not a distraction, Woodforde isn't so
sure.
"I wouldn't say that it's a big help, again I think you have to get it from
the horse's mouth," he said.
"It's up to how he perceives it to be when he steps on to the court. One
thing for Lleyton is that every time he steps on to the court he pretty much has
to have full concentration to stay strong under pressure and if there are too
many off-court problem areas causing him some concern of course he is not going
to get the results he is after.
"Lleyton has said it is not playing on his mind but I'm sure it is there
and it's just not helping him at this stage. He says it's not a detriment to him
and I think we should leave it at that."
The tennis world is buzzing with rumours that Rasheed could be replaced as
coach, with many tipping Peter McNamara for the job.
McNamara is flying to New York on Tuesday but denies he has been approached.
"There are rumours but there's no truth in it," McNamara said this
week. "I'd jump at the chance, but that's up to Lleyton and the management
to discuss that.
"Who wouldn't be interested in a job like that?"
Not that McNamara doesn't think Rasheed is up to the job.
"Roger's done a great job. He's a very fair man and it's not easy to be a
coach," he said. " I mean, you can do the best as a coach to get him
mentally and physically prepared, but he's got to go out there and do it.
"There were always going to be changes when you have a different coach. You
had Jason (Stoltenberg) who was a different person, Darren (Cahill) who was
different again. There's going to be changes and he's got to make a decision
about where he's going and what he wants with the coach and settle himself down
for 2004."
McNamara says that Hewitt may have to write off 2003 as a lost cause and
concentrate on next year.
Cup greats urge Hewitt to play bolder
August 23, 2003
Lleyton Hewitt must find his old audacious self again, writes Richard Hinds.
John Fitzgerald has just left the practice court in New York where Lleyton
Hewitt has been hitting with Wimbledon champion Roger Federer. While any
examination of Hewitt's recent results proves he is in a serious slump, the
Davis Cup captain cannot identify any symptoms.
"Honestly, he is hitting the ball unbelievably well," says Fitzgerald.
Fitzgerald had received a similar report from Davis Cup coach Wally Masur, who
watched Hewitt hit with Mark Philippoussis in Florida for four days in the
lead-up to next week's US Open. "Replicate that ball striking in a match
situation and I think he will be fine," says Fitzgerald.
But therein lies the problem. Throughout a turbulent three-month stretch Hewitt
has lost matches to Fernando Gonzalez, Tommy Robredo, Sebastien Grosjean, Ivo
Karlovic, Wayne Ferreira, Max Mirnyi and Xavier Malisse. Hewitt used to be a
world No.1. Now he just dates one. Yet, throughout his decline, Hewitt has never
looked troubled in practice.
Before Wimbledon, Fitzgerald and Masur gave similarly glowing reports about his
form. Yet the defending champion's unexpected defeat to the 204th-ranked
Karlovic was one of the most stunning Wimbledon exits.
As he did at the time, Fitzgerald defends that result to the tall Croatian as a
freak occurrence. "It was a very awkward draw against a unique
opponent," he says. "If he had got through that match I'm certain he
could have gone deep into the second week."
But the fact is Hewitt didn't. And defeats in the second and first rounds of his
past two tournaments have made it obvious he's off his game.
"Yes, you could call it a slump," says former Davis Cup hero John
Alexander. "And quite an acute one."
Alexander is one of the growing number of observers who believe Hewitt is
playing too conservatively. That he is attempting to protect his spot among the
world elite rather than playing the daring shots at vital moments that were once
his trademark.
"He's playing with a fear of losing," says Alexander.
"Ultimately, that means he is playing conservative tennis that allows him
to be attacked by relatively modest opposition. Previously he had no fear of
losing."
In softer tones, Fitzgerald makes much the same point. "He might need to be
a little more aggressive," he says.
The words of wisdom for Hewitt from former greats is abundant. But because he
protects his privacy so doggedly, and talks only to those reporters willing to
spout his official version, it is difficult to tell how much of it Hewitt is
willing to take on board.
One former player says that during the French Open Hewitt responded to the words
of an insider by saying: "This is how I got to be No.1. I know what I'm
doing. You don't."
Alexander says: "He is certainly at a point now where he needs to realise
there is a situation that needs addressing. I don't know whether there is an
element of denial, but that's how I see it."
After the Wimbledon defeat, many suggested Hewitt needed to find a more
experienced replacement for former coach Jason Stoltenberg - South Australian
Roger Rasheed has taken the job - and become less reliant on his omnipresent
parents. Predictably, the advice was summarily dismissed - and perhaps rightly
so.
Whenever an athlete begins to struggle there are many theories concocted as to
what the cause might be. Hewitt is clearly reluctant to abandon the formula that
has proved so successful in the past. But one theory that might carry weight is
that an attempt by Hewitt to prolong his career by reducing his schedule has
backfired.
Hewitt has always thrived on match play. In March he won back-to-back
tournaments in the US. But before the French Open and after Wimbledon, he has
taken long breaks. That might have allowed him to watch a lot of Adelaide Crows
matches and perhaps addressed concerns about his health. But it does not seem to
have helped his game.
Whatever the problem, Fitzgerald says Hewitt is well aware that there are
"some improvements" that have to be made. "I think he knows
that's the case. It might take some time. There is a bit of difference doing it
on the practice court than in matches."
But Fitzgerald says some poor recent results have not affected Hewitt's outlook.
"He's very relaxed. I think he knows his best form is never far away."
Normally, it might be said that Hewitt's early draw for the US Open is good.
However, after falling to the big-serving Karlovic at Wimbledon, there won't be
many taking short odds about his match with the 84th-ranked Romanian Victor
Hanescu.
But Fitzgerald remains as confident as ever. "I've got absolutely no doubt
he will turn it around," he says. "He may or may not do it here. But
you should never rule him out."
Luck of draw for Hewitt
NEW YORK
THE pressure on Lleyton Hewitt has eased a little with the struggling former
world No. 1 getting a favourable draw for the US Open, starting on Monday.
Unlike Davis Cup teammate Mark Philippoussis, Hewitt gets a golden opportunity
to play himself into much-needed form over the first week of the season's last
grand slam tournament.
In the first round, sixth-seed Hewitt meets world No. 84 Victor Hanescu, a
22-year-old from Romania who has played only 22 matches on the main tour and has
done best on clay.
He could face Lee Hyung-taik or Vladimir Voltchkov in round two.
There is no "name" player in his path until Thailand's Paradorn
Srichaphan in the round of 16.
Srichaphan is the 11th seed and won a tour-best 40 matches on hard courts last
year.
Third seed Juan Carlos Ferrero looms in the quarterfinals and should Hewitt
advance to the semis - as he has on his last three trips to Flushing Meadows -
the 2001 champion would likely confront top seed and world No. 1 Andre Agassi.
Other dangers in Hewitt's top half of the draw include unpredictable Russian
Marat Safin, Sebastien Grosjean and two recent victors over the South
Australian, Max Mirnyi and Wayne Ferreira.
Philippoussis, the 20th seed and 1998 finalist, opens against a qualifier but
has landed in an rugged section of the draw also featuring Wimbledon champion
Roger Federer, hometown favourite James Blake and in-form Argentine David
Nalbandian.
Philippoussis will probably play Russian Davis Cup hero Mikhail Youzhny in the
second round and is on course to meet 13th-seeded Nalbandian in the third round
before colliding with Federer in a Wimbledon final rematch.
Seventh seed Carlos Moya is Philippoussis' projected quarterfinal opponent, with
tournament favourite Andy Roddick, the fourth seed, expected to be lying in wait
for the semifinals.
Hewitt, normally at his best on the American hard courts, has had a poor
build-up for the Open.
He reached the final in Los Angeles at the start of the month in his comeback
event after a post-Wimbledon lay-off.
But he has since lost to Mirnyi in the second round in Montreal and to Xavier
Malisse in the second round in Cincinnati, consigning the dual winner of two
majors to the practice courts for a full fortnight before the Open starts.
Hewitt's ranking has fallen from No. 1 to six and every top-50 player in the ATP
Champions Race bar one has played more tournaments this year than his 13.
But he insists his priorities for 2003 were the grand slam tournaments and Davis
Cup. Although he has failed to progress beyond the fourth round at the first
three majors, he has helped Australia reach a Davis Cup semifinal against
Switzerland next month.
Fellow Australians Wayne Arthurs and Scott Draper have tough draws, with Arthurs
opening against Australian Open runner-up Rainer Schuettler and Draper to play
seventh seed Carlos Moya.
In the women's event, Australian No. 1 Alicia Molik has drawn a qualifier and
Nicole Pratt meets American Jill Craybas.
August 22, 2003
-AUSTRALIAN ASSOCIATED PRESS
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Full steam ahead
By PAUL MALONE in New York
22aug03
A REFRESHED Lleyton Hewitt has been dragged back to his Wimbledon nightmare by a
US Open draw pitching him into a first round encounter next week with a
towering, little known European.
Hewitt will play 22-year-old Romanian Victor Hanescu, ranked 84th in the world,
two months after unknown Croatian Ivo Karlovic terminated his Wimbledon title
defence in the first round to accelerate the Australian's puzzling form slump.
But an encouraged Australian Davis Cup captain John Fitzgerald said after
watching Hewitt practise at Arthur Ashe Stadium yesterday that he was back to
moving as well as ever after four days practising with Mark Philippoussis in
Florida last week.
Some tour observers believe Hewitt's speed has not been as sharp as normal
during his surprise five-month stretch without a title because he has reduced
his tournament workload, becoming the player in the ATP top 40 rankings with
fewest event appearances this year.
Hewitt appeared to be in a relaxed frame of mind in the players' lounge before
practice as he joked with girlfriend Kim Clijsters, the women's singles top
seed.
"He's moving great and I reckon he's hitting the ball today as well as he's
hit it," Fitzgerald said. "He has to transfer that into winning his
first couple of matches."
Hanescu reached the third round at the French Open and Wimbledon this year.
The Romanian right-hander lost to Dutchman Sjeng Schalken at Wimbledon, but has
top 50 scalps in Juan Ignacio Chela, Sargis Sargsian and Mikhail Youzhny to his
name this year.
Philippoussis, who is seeded 20th, drew a qualifier in the first round.
The roadbump rounds for the two Australians could be a fourth round clash for
Hewitt against Thai serve-volleyer Paradorn Srichaphan, seeded 11th, and a third
round danger match for Philippoussis.
Philippoussis would probably find after two wins that his opponent would be
Argentina's David Nalbandian, seeded 13th and a much improved hardcourt player.
Hewitt could have to beat the world's top three players to salvage his Grand
Slam year with a second US Open title. If the seedings hold, he would play third
seed Juan Carlos Ferrero in the quarter-finals, then top seed Andre Agassi and
have Wimbledon champion Roger Federer as his final opponent.
"Both Lleyton and Mark have got a reasonable section of the draw,"
Fitzgerald said.
"It could be worse for both of them."
Australia's other two direct entries suffered unkind draws.
Scott Draper will meet seventh seed Carlos Moya, and Wayne Arthurs will have to
fight his way out of a form slump against Australian Open runner-up Rainer
Schuettler.
Hewitt aims to silence critics at U.S. Open
By Stephen Wood
ANAHEIM, California, Aug 20 (Reuters) - His critics suggest victory in a
bitter legal battle with the ATP has become more important to troubled
Lleyton Hewitt than success on the tennis court.
An extended run at the U.S. Open, therefore, would provide the
Australian with a perfect riposte and a positive finale to a grand slam
season which has been nothing short of miserable for the former world
number one.
Hewitt filed a court case in June against the ATP, emanating from his
row with the governing body over his refusal to give a media interview in
2002.
It is a messy situation which Hewitt will be confronted with time and
again by media in New York, and it will be interesting to see how a player
famed for his mental fortitude will cope.
The 22-year-old vehemently denies the affair is affecting his game but a
poor run of results prove otherwise.
Even his demeanour on court -- a betrayal of the intense competitor many
have come to love or hate -- has at times shown Hewitt in a different
light.
A fourth round exit at the Australian Open in January ensured his
ambition of winning in his home country remains unfulfilled, while he made
it to just the third round of the French Open in May.
But it was a first round defeat to unheralded Croatian Ivo Karlovic at
Wimbledon in June -- the earliest exit for a defending champion in the Open
era -- which represented the nadir of Hewitt's year.
"I guess this loss will stay with me for a while," said Hewitt at the
time. "I hope I can learn from it.
"You know, the big one for me now is the U.S. Open, the last grand slam
of the year. Maybe this defeat will make me more hungry for that last grand
slam. I'll have to wait and see."
EARLY EXITS
To add to the maelstrom around the south Australian, people are now
calling for him to replace his coach Roger Rasheed -- who took on the job
after Jason Stoltenberg quit in June citing personal reasons.
Aside from making the Los Angeles final on August 3, his early exits on
the hardcourts of the Montreal and Cincinnati Masters events do not bode
well.
"I'd probably like to have had more matches going in to the Open,"
Hewitt, the 2001 U.S. Open champion, said last week.
"But grand slams are different. If you can get through a few matches and
the draw opens up and you get confident, then everyone knows (what can
happen).
"Look at Pete Sampras last year, and even the two occasions I've won
grand slams -- I've got better as the tournament has gone on."
Sampras won against all odds at Flushing Meadows 12 months ago, yet New
York and the U.S. Open remain the most unforgiving of grand slam
environments.
It will be a shame if one of the game's most interesting competitors is
crushed by both.
(Reporting by Stephen Wood; editing by Pritha Sarkar)
Wednesday, 20 August 2003 21:01:04
RTRS [nL20601130]