Hewitt Roars on with Hard-Fought Win Over Lee
Thu August 28, 2003 02:08 PM ET
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Lleyton Hewitt was back to his emotional best as he grunted
and growled his way past South Korea's Lee Hyung-taik 5-7, 6-2, 6-2, 6-4 in the
second round of the U.S. Open on Thursday.
The Australian sixth seed, champion here in 2001, recovered from an indifferent
start to win in two hours, 42 minutes on his fourth match point.
Famed for his animated behavior, the former world number one had retreated into
his shell recently following a disappointing season, but the fist-pumping was
once again on display on the Louis Armstrong court.
When he seized a break to go 5-4 up in the fourth set, he turned in celebration
to his entourage courtside and strained so hard the veins in his neck bulged
alarmingly.
There was still work to be done, however, for he was forced to save four break
back points and endure seven deuces in the following game before finally
clinching a hard-earned victory with an ace.
----------------------------------------------------
Hewitt rallies from a set down to beat Lee in second round
14 minutes ago
By JANIE McCAULEY, AP Sports Writer
NEW YORK - Lleyton Hewitt faced a one-set deficit and the possibility of making
his earliest U.S. Open (news - web sites) exit ever. He was going for too much
and missing.
The sixth-seeded Aussie eventually settled down, rallying for a 5-7, 6-2, 6-2,
6-4 victory against aggressive Korean baseliner Lee Hyung-taik in the
tournament's second round Thursday.
Hewitt repeatedly yelled "Come on!" and pumped his fists after many
points. Once he finally ended it on his fourth match point, Hewitt bent his
knees, threw both arms up and screamed. Then, he hit a tennis ball into the
seats of Louis Armstrong Stadium.
Hewitt is not the top-seeded player in a Grand Slam for the first time since
2001 Open — but he was seeded fourth that year and wound up winning.
"I was just playing a little bit within myself and not going out and being
aggressive," he said. "From the first point in the second set, I
started putting more pressure on him. I just say win. For me, sometimes the
first few rounds are the toughest."
But, he added: "I'm through to the third round, I can't complain."
In another entertaining match Thursday, unseeded Mary Pierce (news) pulled off
an upset of No. 22 Jelena Dokic 6-2, 6-7 (5), 7-6 (5), coming back from a 5-1
deficit in the final set. Pierce, a two-time major winner, won a tiebreaker for
the first time this year in six tries.
Dokic, who saved a match point in the second set, double-faulted 12 times while
Pierce hit 70 percent of her first serves and 47 winners.
Thailand's Paradorn Srichaphan, seeded 11th and a fan favorite, defeated Dominik
Hrbaty 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 to resounding cheers from his animated countrymen. Paradorn,
who believes he is representing all of Asia, grew up admiring Michael Chang
(news). Paradorn won the title in a tune-up at Long Island last week.
"Like I said every day, it's nice to have support out there," he said.
"In best-of-five matches you need somebody behind your back to help you
keep fighting because you never know how long the match is going to be."
Hewitt has advanced to at least the third round of the Open every year he's
played, with his earliest elimination coming in the third round in 1999 when he
made his debut at Flushing Meadows.
Lee's first-round victory over Vladimir Voltchkov ended a nine-match losing
streak dating back to May. He hadn't won a match in four previous hard-court
events this summer.
In other men's action Thursday, No. 33 Juan Ignacio Chela was a 2-6, 6-1, 6-4,
6-3 winner over Tomas Berdych.
On the women's side, 15th-seeded Ai Sugiyama beat Virginie Razzano 1-6, 6-3, 6-3
to reach the third round.
Lindsay Davenport (news) advanced to the third round Wednesday night with
another quick match. She is protecting her troublesome left foot by spending as
little time as possible on the court.
Davenport won her first two in just under two hours, dropping only seven games.
She didn't dazzle by any means in her 6-2, 6-4 win against Maria Elena Camerin,
but it didn't matter.
What was most important to the 1998 Open champion was that she didn't focus more
attention on her foot than the woman on the other side of the net.
"I didn't feel it at all today," a cheerful Davenport said. "I
think, hopefully, as more days go by, if it doesn't flare up, I'll be more and
more confident pushing off it and not really worrying about it."
World No. 1 Kim Clijsters joins the third-seeded Davenport in the third round of
the season's final Slam, after overpowering Laura Granville 6-1, 6-1.
The top-seeded Clijsters, who took over the No. 1 ranking from Serena Williams
(news - web sites) this month, is aiming for her first Grand Slam title.
"If it's in their head they're playing the No. 1, maybe that's a little bit
intimidating," Clijsters said. "On the other hand, that could even be
also more motivating as well. I think it depends on the character of your
opponent."
U.S. Davis Cup player James Blake pulled off an upset against 27th-seeded
Mariano Zabaleta 7-6 (4), 6-3, 6-2. Blake hit a 105 mph second-serve ace on his
fourth match point, then called for a ball from the ballboy and hit it into the
stands.
Also scheduled to play Thursday were second-seeded Justine Henin-Hardenne, No. 6
Jennifer Capriati and men's No. 1 and top-seeded Andre Agassi (news), who at 33
is the oldest top-seeded player in the Open era.
Hewitt breezes past Lee
BBC
Lleyton Hewitt overcame a shaky start to beat Hyung-taik Lee in four sets in the
second round of the US Open.
The number six seed, who has struggled to find his form since losing his world
number one spot, looked out-of-sorts in the opening set allowing his Korean to
take full advantage.
Hewitt found his range in the second and third sets, dictating the game from
baseline and reminding his critics that he still has the ability to challenge
for the US crown.
The Australian was forced to work hard against his gutsy opponent to take the
final set, completing a 7-5 2-6 2-6 4-6 victory with a thunderous serve.
Hewitt will now meet the winner of the clash between Radek Stepanek and Fabrice
Santoro.
---------------------------------------------------
Hewitt into third round
From correspondents in New York
August 29, 2003
LLEYTON Hewitt moved into the third round of the US Open today with a
hard-fought four-set win over free-hitting Korean Hyung-Taik Lee.
Hewitt, 22, recovered after losing the first set to prevail 5-7 6-2 6-2 6-4 on
Flushing Meadows' Louis Armstrong Stadium.
Despite the lopsided-looking scoreline over the last three sets, it was anything
but a case of the sixth-seeded Australian having his own way.
Hewitt was pushed to the death and forced to fight off four break points in a
titanic final service game.
He eventually ended the contest doggedly on his fourth match point with an ace
down the middle after two hours, 42 minutes.
Lee was never going to be an easy opponent for the 2001 champion.
In January, he joined 11th seed Paradorn Srichaphan as the only Asian player to
have won an ATP title when he triumphed at the adidas International in Sydney.
Srichaphan now looms in the fourth round for Hewitt provided the former world
No.1 can overcome either Czech Radek Stepanek or Frenchman Fabrice Santoro, who
are both unseeded.
AAP
Hewitt eases through
BBC Sport
Hewitt is into the fourth round
Sixth seed Lleyton Hewitt reached the fourth round of the US Open when Czech
Radek Stepanek retired due to back pain.
The Australian won nine of the first 10 games and was leading 6-1 3-0 when
Stepanek called a trainer to the court.
The 24-year-old Czech lay on his stomach while the trainer rubbed his lower
back. He lost two of the next three points and then quit the match.
It was the second time this year Hewitt has ousted Stepanek from a Slam, having
knocked him out of the Australian Open in the third round as well.
Hewitt, the 2001 US Open and 2002 Wimbledon champion will face 11th seed
Paradorn Srichaphan of Thailand on Monday for a quarter-final berth in the
year's final Grand Slam event.
Srichaphan equalled his best showing at a Grand Slam tournament by defeating
Spanish lucky loser Fernando Verdasco 6-3 6-4 6-3.
The Thai player also reached the fourth round of Wimbledon this year where he
was beaten by American Andy Roddick.
********* Gamewatch: Hewitt v Stepanek
All the action as Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic is forced to retire
injured against former champion Lleyton Hewitt in the second set of their third
round match at the US Open.
Second set
Hewitt 6-1 3-0 Stepanek
After the injury time-out, Stepanek returns to the court but at 15-30, the
problem proves too much and he is forced to retire.
Hewitt 6-1 3-0 Stepanek
Hewitt makes it ten games in a row against a hapless Stepanek, securing the game
to love with another ace. At the change of ends Stepanek takes an injury
time-out for some sort of back problem.
Hewitt 6-1 2-0 Stepanek
More break points for Hewitt as the errors continue to mount up for Stepanek and
Stepanek nets a forehand volley to hand another game to Hewitt.
Hewitt 6-1 1-0 Stepanek
Stepanek nets a backhand at game point as Hewitt continues his march at the
start of the second set.
First set
Hewitt 6-1 Stepanek
Stepanek's confidence appears to be disappearing as he goes 15-40 down as he
bids to stay in the set. Another unforced error by Stepanek gives Hewitt the
game and a one set to love lead.
Hewitt 5-1 Stepanek
Although Stepanek has a break point, Hewitt recovers and makes the Czech player
pay, wrapping up another game after another Stepanek error.
Hewitt 4-1 Stepanek
Another game for Hewitt on the Stepanek serve, highlighted by an outstanding
rally, won by a whipped forehand down the line after he had worked hard to get
to a Stepanek drop shot.
Hewitt 3-1 Stepanek
Stepanek gets three early break points but Hewitt keeps his cool to save them
and then rattles off the next two points to take the game.
Hewitt 2-1 Stepanek
After Hewitt's blistering start, Stepanek gets on the board with a more
confident service game, including some neat play at the net.
Hewitt 2-0 Stepanek
A comfortable start for Hewitt as he holds easily with Stepanek sending a couple
of groundstrokes long past the baseline.
Hewitt 1-0 Stepanek
The best possible start for Hewitt who means business from the beginning with a
break in the opening game.
Hewitt revels in current form
Lleyton Hewitt believes he has recaptured his best form of the year just in time
to mount a serious U.S. Open bid.
The Australian sixth seed, who won his first grand slam title here in 2001,
progressed to the last 16 at Flushing Meadows on Sunday when Czech opponent
Radek Stepanek retired injured while trailing 6-1 3-0 in their third-round
match.
"I played my best tennis of the year at the World Team Cup (in May)...but
that today was right up there," said Hewitt.
"It makes me feel good. I was aggressive, I served great and had a good
rhythm. It was a big step up for me."
Hewitt's results in 2003 have fallen short of the high standards he set himself
when finishing 2001 and 2002 as world number one.
However, his touch in a truncated performance against Stepanek, who received
treatment on his back during the second set, suggested he was set to reclaim his
pre-eminence.
Talking candidly about his indifferent season, the 22-year-old rejected
accusations he was "too happy" to prosper and played down reports he
was considering Peter McNamara as his next coach.
It was John McEnroe, during a television commentary, who claimed that Hewitt's
father, Glynn, had told him privately the problem with Hewitt was that he was
"too happy".
But Hewitt told reporters: "I don't know where that's come from.
"Some days I feel happier than others...but I don't think 'too happy' has
got anything to do with it.
"I still feel hungry and the will to win is still there.
"When you look at the results I've had they're not quite up to the form (of
two years ago).
"Probably everyone's expectations rose that much more over the last couple
of years.
"There's still a couple of little things in my game I've got to alter, but
I've been hitting the ball well and today it felt really clean.
"Sometimes there are matches where I think I'm a better player than (when I
won) in 2001, but it's hard to play faultless tennis week in, week out."
Since Jason Stoltenberg quit as Hewitt's coach in June, critics have questioned
the success of his link-up with Roger Rasheed.
But Hewitt refused to bite on Australian media reports that former Australian
professional and Davis Cup player McNamara would take over his coaching duties.
"I don't know anything about it...I'm not looking at anyone," said
Hewitt.
After Stepanek's retirement on Saturday had brought their contest to a
premature, 42-minute end, the twice grand slam champion conducted an impromptu
30-minute practice session.
It was his initial preparation for his fourth round match with Thailand's
Paradorn Srichaphan.
Despite leading their head-to-head meetings 4-1, Hewitt said: "All the
matches have been close...he has got every shot in the game."
Source: Reuters
Hewitt Works Quickly for Win
by Jason Brown
Saturday, August 30, 2003
An energetic, refreshed and invigorated Lleyton Hewitt reverted to championship
form on Labor Day Weekend Saturday, staking his claim as a legitimate contender
at the US Open.
His day's work ended early in the second set, as Radek Stepanek was forced to
retire from the match suffering from a lower back injury. The match ended, 6-1,
3-0, ret.
After quickly breaking Stepanek to open the second set, Hewitt was controlling
play with a 3-0 lead. During the changeover, Stepanek received massage treatment
on his lower back from the trainer, attempted to continue playing, but called it
quits after a few points.
Sluggish and uninspired in his first-round match against Hyung-Taik Lee, the
2001 US Open winner was lean and mean today, displaying the kind of grit and
determination that has become his calling card.
Hewitt broke Stepanek in the first game of the match. With Stepanek on serve at
3-1, Stepanek hit a pretty dropper that would be out of reach for just about
anyone -- anyone but Hewitt.
The Aussie tracked down the shot, caught the ball just before it touched the
ground and cut it cross-court. Stepanek did good to get to the ball and flipped
it down the baseline.
The impossible task almost completed, Hewitt scrambled backwards and, in a
whirl, whipped a forehand in the direction of the far court, tracking within the
baseline for a clean winner.
Converting four of five break-point chances, Hewitt was at his efficient best.
A must-see, scintillating fourth-round matchup with No. 11 Paradorn Srichaphan
is up next for Hewitt.
Paradorn,
Hewitt come to Roddick's defense
August 30, 2003
AFP - Aug 30, 3:48 pm EDT
More PhotosNEW YORK (AFP) - Turns out Andy Roddick is not such a bad guy after
all, at least according to Australia's Lleyton Hewitt and Thailand's Paradorn
Srichaphan.
Hours after the American's crowd-inciting antics were ripped by Croatian Ivan
Ljubicic following a loss to Roddick, Hewitt and Paradorn came to the defense of
the US star on his 21st birthday.
"Andy seems fine with me," Hewitt said. "I've never had a problem
with him. He hangs around with most of the young American guys anyway. I don't
know him that well. I've never had a problem with anything he's done on the
court."
Ljubicic said most ATP players detest Roddick's antics in trying to arouse the
passions of American crowds, saying his fourth seed position here is a function
of such dubious moves and the fact so many events are in US cities.
"Every single player said to me, 'Good luck. Kick his ass,'" Ljubicic
said. "I don't like him. Nobody in the locker room likes his acting on the
court."
But Paradorn disagreed, saying he gets along quite well with the ATP Champions
Race leader.
"I would say Andy and I are good friends," Paradorn said. "I'm a
friend of Ljubicic, too. Andy's all right. Most of the people like him."
Ljubicic claimed Roddick's antics, including calling shots in his favor before a
ball lands, intimidates linesmen and umpires once a crowd is incited.
"I didn't see anything," Hewitt said. "I can't say I've felt that
way in my matches. I've seen some times on TV where that might have happened. I
never felt an action by a player turned a call in one of my matches."
Hewitt was the center of a controversy here two years ago when he pointed to a
black linesman and black US foe James Blake and told an umpire "Look at
him, look at him and you tell me what the similarity is."
Known for his passions on the court, Hewitt can relate to Roddick's bids to
raise his game with aid from spectators when on US soil.
"Andy likes to play with a lot of emotion and get the crowd involved. When
he is playing in America, the crowd is going to get behind him. It's the same if
we're playing in France against the French guys.
"Maybe Ivan was just disappointed at how the crowd was for Andy and against
him."
Both Hewitt and Paradorn have cheering groups here from their homelands.