Hewitt happy despite defeat
From Darren Walton in New York
September 11, 2005

LLEYTON Hewitt is hoping his near miss against Roger Federer in the US Open semi-finals today will be the springboard to a successful Australian Open campaign in January.

Hewitt is unlikely to play another tournament this year, except perhaps the season-ending Masters Cup in Shanghai, as he and actress wife Bec Cartwright devote full attention to the impending birth of their first child.

Australia's former world No.1 has not entered any more tournaments in 2005 and said he "won't go chasing points" in order to qualify for the eight-man Masters in November, a prestigious event he won back-to-back in 2001-02.

Regardless of his barren schedule, Federer said Hewitt had every right to feel confident that he would eventually crack it for another win over the Swiss maestro after breathing new life into their rivalry today.

Federer dropped a set against Hewitt for the first time in six matches before finally shaking off his tenacious opponent 6-3 7-6 (7-0) 4-6 6-3 after precisely three hours of high-quality tennis.

"He was awfully close today, much closer than he was in the last few matches. I think it should give him some confidence," Federer said.

"He played a good match. It was close. This match could have gone either way, I had the feeling, so I'm happy I came through on top."

Indeed, Hewitt was desperately unlucky not to have locked the match up at a set apiece after holding five set points in the second, all on Federer's serve.

The five-time grand slam champion and reigning US Open titleholder then played an "incredible" tiebreaker, producing a series of breathtaking winners to leave Hewitt staring down the barrel of a ninth straight loss to his 24-year-old rival.

Even Federer said Hewitt deserved to be on level terms after the second set.

"There was a lot of luck involved because five set points normally don't come out," he said.

"I was in some rough situations there, and obviously I was serving all right, but, in the end, I think he should have deserved that set. But tennis can be tough sometimes."

As can Hewitt, and the world No.4 was rewarded for his extra aggression when he had Federer rattled enough to miss an easy smash when facing a break point in the seventh game of the third set.

Hewitt grabbed his lifeline to serve out the set and continued matching Federer shot for for shot until a brief lapse in concentration in the sixth game of the fourth set proved fatal.

The 2001 champion coughed up consecutive double-faults to drop his serve and fall behind 4-2, and there was no way back.

"It's obviously a bit disappointing right at the moment, but it was a lot better effort on my part of getting myself into the match and having a bit of a tussle with him," Hewitt said.

"Once I got into the match, I felt like I was able to go toe-to-toe with him pretty well.

"But he's a hell of a shot-maker, the best shot-maker I've ever seen. He can pull the trigger anywhere on the court.

"Once you go down two sets to love against a guy like Roger, it's always going to be a massive uphill battle."

Probably more like a Swiss Alp.

"But maybe I'll take a few more positives out of today's match than the final last year," Hewitt said.

"Who knows, in a few months' time, that might hold me in good stead down in Melbourne hopefully."

Despite not adding to his grand slam collection, Hewitt has had a wonderful season in the majors, losing the Australian Open final to Marat Safin and falling to Federer in the semi-finals at Wimbledon and now Flushing Meadows.

"I'm satisfied with it. I haven't left anything in the locker room in any three of the majors that I've played," he said.

"I've put pressure on. It's only been two guys that have beaten me in the three majors this year that I played, and they're not bad players.

"Obviously, the next focus will be about the Australian Open - training towards that and getting in as good a shape as possible for that.

"It's a tournament that I love playing and I'm going to really look forward to it again.

Hewitt still haunted
By Paul Malone
September 12, 2005

LLEYTON Hewitt yesterday extracted little consolation from dragging Roger Federer into their first dogfight in almost two years after his US Open campaign had run aground on a ninth consecutive loss to the Swiss champion.
 

The operation was a success but the patient died as Hewitt executed with considerable adventure and skill a game plan in which he hit more for the lines and won 70 per cent of his 40 forays to the net.

Federer saved five set points on his serve in a vital second set before taking a two-sets lead with a superlative tiebreak and later admitted he was "lucky" the Australian had not taken a lead of two sets to one. Federer and many observers saw tangible improvement. Hewitt mostly saw defeat spelt out in big, familiar capitals.

"You get frustrated, but it's a matter of hanging in there and looking at the big picture," Hewitt said. "I can become a better player, that's what you sort of cling to after you come so close yet again, but don't hold up the winner's trophy.

"There's more positives out of this one [from the 2004 final in which he lost two love sets]. I haven't left anything in the locker-room in any of the three majors that I've played this year."

Hewitt ended a 17-set losing streak to Federer when he won the third in a rearguard fight which was tenacious, even by his standards, saving nine break points in the second and fourth games before taking advantage of a loose Federer service game in the seventh.

But his 44 per cent first serve rate in the fourth set caught up with the Australian, who served two double faults and made two groundstroke errors to fall 2-4 behind.

Federer, favourite to beat Andre Agassi in the final this morning and become the first man in the 37-year Open era to win the Wimbledon-US Open double in two consecutive years, said Hewitt should take "some confidence" from the three-hour contest.

"This match could have gone either way. He played better than in the past and he deserved that [second] set, so I'm happy to come out on top."

For a split second, Hewitt said he thought he was a set apiece on the second of the set points when Federer whipped a forehand passing shot, but it was launched into the wind and fell inside the baseline.

"I felt like I had opportunities in the first set and I sort of beat myself a little bit," said Hewitt, who had converted two of 12 break point opportunities in the first two sets.

"Once I got into the match, I felt I was able to go toe to toe with him. That's the tough thing, to try and dictate to him for three of five sets.

"There's no doubt Roger has taken the game to a new level and that's what drives the competitive spirit in a lot of the top players."

TV: Fox Sports 2, 1.30pm

The Courier-Mail

Federer smells Hewitt's blood
From Darren Walton in New York
September 9, 2005

IF Lleyton Hewitt was contemplating trying something different in a desperate bid to end his depressing eight-match losing streak against Roger Federer in Saturday's US Open semi-finals, he might want to reconsider after hearing the Swiss's gruesome warning today.

 

"He could. But, then again, he could even run into the knife more brutally," Federer said after murdering David Nalbandian 6-2 6-4 6-1 in his quarter-final at Flushing Meadows.

Federer was laughing when he made the chilling remark, but a trio of former world No.1s were deadly serious when they urged Hewitt to leave his comfort zone on the baseline or face another mauling at the hands of the smiling assassin.

Federer's dominance over Hewitt - and the rest of the tennis-playing world for that matter - now stretches two years and John McEnroe, Jim Courier and John Newcombe all believe the Australian will need more than his unrivalled fighting qualities to bring down the phenomenal Swiss.

Federer's record over the past 12 months since the Athens Olympics is 86-3, the best in 38 years of professional tennis - eclipsing McEnroe's 84-3 win-loss ratio in 1984 - and the American great believes the only way Hewitt can stop the rot is by coming up with something new.

"The best way to beat Federer is to be more offensive and Lleyton's a good net player. He's won the doubles here before and I know his coach has been working on him to get to the net more," McEnroe said.

McEnroe said Hewitt could not be underestimated.

"Don't forget he finished No.1 two years in a row," said the four-time Open champion.

"Other guys have stepped up. Federer's the obvious one, but Lleyton's right there.

"He's bigger, stronger. He's as fast as he ever was. He's probably a better player than when he was No.1."

While Courier praised Hewitt for his perfect shot selection and described the 24-year-old as a hybrid-type player with Jimmy Connors' attitude and spirit and Michael Chang's retrieving powers, he too thought the blueprint for success against Federer was more attack.

"He's got to get a little more emphatic," Courier said.

"He likes to counter punch and it works against everyone except a guy named Roger.

"You can't blame Hewitt for wanting to play his game because it's been so successful, but when you come up against the world No.1, you've got to a do a little more.

"He's got to push himself to play out of his comfort zone."

Newcombe would like to see Hewitt follow the lead of Nicolas Kiefer, the German who troubled Federer at both Wimbledon and the US Open this week with his unpredictability and risk-taking.

Hewitt refused to reveal what his tactics would be after his hard-fought 2-6 6-1 3-6 6-3 6-1 quarter-final win over unseeded Finn Jarkko Nieminen.

"We'll have to wait and see," he said coyly.

The world No.4 has lost to the eventual champion in his last six grand slam events, including four times to Federer, and said it was dangerous to tinker with what has been a winning formula in the middle of a major for the sake of one opponent, something Federer agreed with.

"It's a tough one because you're obviously doing something extremely well to keep putting yourself in that position," Hewitt said.

"But most of the time you know if you're going to win the majors, you're going to have to beat him somewhere along the line.

"But you don't want to go out there and try and work on areas of your game to try to upset Roger late in the tournament (because) you might fall in one of the first hurdles (doing that).

"That's the tough part about it. But the next day and a half my focus will be purely on Roger."

AAP

Quarterfinal

Under the scorching sunlight pouring into Arthur Ashe Stadium, Lleyton Hewitt overtook Jarkko Nieminen of Finland Thursday afternoon 2-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, 6-1. The Aussie now has a 3-0 record against the Finn and moves onto to his fourth US Open semifinal in five years.

Nieminen, the only lefty still in the draw, came out hitting hard against the thorough Aussie and surprised the crowd by winning the first set handily.

The unseeded Nieminen had his share of loyal fans in the crowd, waving Finnish flags and chanting his name. After all, he’s already breaking records for the Scandinavian country. Nieminen is the first Finnish man ever to come this far at a US Open. The 24 year-old is setting personal records as well—this is the first time that he has ever made it past the round of 16 in a Grand Slam.

It didn’t take long before Hewitt started applying the pressure. In a swift 22 minutes, he roared back to a 6-1 second-set victory.

Hewitt has a stellar record against left-handed players: he’s now won his last 21 matches against them, as well as all five lefty match-ups here at the Open.

In the third set, both men were strong on their serves, often winning at love. Nieminen gave a fist pump after breaking the Aussie’s serve to go up 5-3 in the third and serve for the set. Things had flip-flopped again, and after just an hour and 26 minutes, they were headed to a fourth set.

Hewitt bounded out to an early 3-0 lead in the fourth, and held on to force a fifth and final set. Both players found themselves in fifth set for the second time at this year’s Open. Hewitt ousted Taylor Dent in a memorable third round marathon, while Nieminen dispatched Karol Beck in five during the first round. Hewitt has won 11 of his last 12 five-set matches. When he jumped out to a two break lead in the fifth set, Hewitt let out a trademark shout of "come on!"

Hewitt awaits the winner of Thursday night’s match between Roger Federer and David Nalbandian to find out who he’ll play in the semifinals. He’s got a score settle with both of them. A meeting with Federer would be rematch of last year’s US Open final. The world No. 1 from Switzerland also beat Hewitt in the semifinals of Wimbledon this year. On the other hand, Nalbandian recently wiped Hewitt in the Davis Cup quarterfinal, shattering the Aussie’s Davis Cup record of 11 straight singles victories.

Lleyton slammed in NY press

Who's No. 1? It's Federer, in Many Ways

By SELENA ROBERTS
Published: September 7, 2005
www.nytimes.com

THE meaning of a number depends on who is No. 1.

As an ex-No. 1, Lleyton Hewitt pulled off a rarity for him as he scurried around Arthur Ashe Stadium yesterday without offending a linesman with a slur, infuriating his opponent with an obscene gesture or irritating the crowd with his excessive "C'mons."

He didn't have enough time. It took only 94 minutes for Hewitt to dispense of Dominik Hrbaty in the fourth round of the United States Open. So Hewitt had to save his typically tasteless remarks for later, when he poked at the holes designed and cut into the shoulder blades of Hrbaty's fashionista shirt.

"I wouldn't wear it, but it made it a lot easier for me to beat him," Hewitt said, adding, "I just couldn't lose to a bloke wearing a shirt like that."

Hewitt is unvarnished, irascible and impolitic. In other words, he hasn't changed a bit since he was the No. 1 player in 2001 and 2002, back when he created a trail of charged feuds with players and legal disputes with the ATP.

He is as self-absorbed as always. In a year when he referred to an umpire with a gay slur, in a season when he nearly fought with a Davis Cup opponent, Hewitt also revealed the depths of his inner control freak. According to Australian reports, Hewitt sold the media rights to his spring engagement, summer wedding and wife's pregnancy. So far, no autographed pictures of sonograms have surfaced on eBay.

The current No. 1, Roger Federer, followed Hewitt onto the stadium court, able to reach into his bag of liquid strokes to frustrate Nicolas Kiefer, winning in four sets while maintaining his trademark calm. Later, always the gentleman, he complimented Kiefer.

Federer took his No. 1 ranking as a responsibility, not a perch of entitlement, maturing into a player of thought, action and social awareness. Would he ever dabble in politics?

"Like Ahnold?" he said in a Schwarzenegger-esque accent during a recent lunch. "I don't think so. I'm more into, in general, helping people. Like Muhammad Ali does for the world.

"Think about the world not only like 'God Bless America' sort of thing but God bless the world, because we're all together. We're living on the same world, you know? And not alone. Sometimes people forget. This is why we have fights all over the world. Of course you can't stop them, but still pick an issue, maybe in the future. Of course it goes into politics a little bit. Maybe. Who knows what I'll do? But I don't really see this sort of role. I'd like to be more of an ambassador."

The difference in depth between Hewitt and Federer, and the divergence in their approach to No. 1, is certainly two parts personality, but at least one part entourage. Hewitt is surrounded by a bevy of yes men and sycophantic handlers, while Federer has chosen a liberating, agent-less existence, grounded by a girlfriend/manager who will tell the emperor off.

Perspective is a choice. And the choice of some top players was revealed in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. One after another, past and present No. 1 players - athletes of high visibility and influential voice - have displayed how sheltered they are by their guffawing circle of advisers.

If advised correctly, Serena Williams would not have celebrated herself as a philanthropist by offering $100 per ace to hurricane relief when her dog, Jackie, travels in a designer handbag that costs many times that much.

If anyone in her management group had prepped her, Venus Williams would not have used an unfortunate line like, "I really don't watch the news," when asked about the devastation in New Orleans.

If she could separate herself from her packaging, Maria Sharapova might have something to add on an issue outside of her perfume launch.

True, athlete activism has been rendered a quaint notion when so many sports icons continue to adopt the lucrative Michael Jordan theory on social causes. As told in Sam Smith's 1995 book, "Second Coming," Jordan was asked why he wouldn't support a black Democratic candidate to unseat Jesse Helms in North Carolina. "Republicans buy shoes, too," Jordan said.

Social conscience may have nearly flatlined in sports, but perspective doesn't have to be buried with it. It is no coincidence that the most introspective responses to Hurricane Katrina came from Andre Agassi, an ex-No. 1, and Lindsay Davenport, the current No. 1.

Agassi is handled by one man, Perry Rogers, a childhood friend who isn't afraid to tell his client the truth. The player's box for Davenport is usually filled by a coach, maybe her husband and, at times, her mother.

Agassi and Davenport do not shut themselves off with a fortress of cling-ons. Agassi and Davenport do not seek the advice of shameless sycophants.

Perspective is a choice of all those who ascend to No. 1. The perch can be treated as a responsibility - as Federer sees it - or as a pulpit of entitlement, as Hewitt once responded to it.

Perspective is not American, European or Australian. The meaning behind the world's No. 1 is universally lost or gained in the number of yes men.

E-mail: selenasports@nytimes.com


************************************************

Karen Baileys response -

Sent to: selenasports@nytimes.com
Cc to: letters@nytimes.com; nytnews@nytimes.com; sports@nytimes.com


Re: "Who's No. 1? It's Federer, in Many Ways", by Selena Roberts, NY Times, September 7, 2005

Hello,

I read your article "Who's No. 1? It's Federer, in Many Ways" (NY Times, Sept 7, 2005) and while Roger Federer is an exemplary world No. 1, I take exception to some of the comments you made about Lleyton Hewitt. I hope you will read this e-mail because I think you will be surprised at some of the facts your article seems to have missed. The length of writing given over to denigrating Hewitt also took away from the apparent focus of your article and resulted in an unbalanced article and a lack of clarity about its focus.

The fist pumps and other gestures Hewitt makes are not obscene (since when are fist pumps obscene gestures?) and many other players make similarly un-offensive gestures. Rafael Nadal is one obvious example. Note that Hewitt doesn't direct his gestures at his opponents. Note also that he respectfully takes off his cap before shaking opponents' hands and it is a rarity for him to not be gracious and complimentary about his opponent's play during post-match interviews, whether he wins or loses.

In Hewitt's many matches, over 500 at the ATP level so far, it is a rarity for him to offend a linesman with a slur or to infuriate his opponent. I have also never seen a crowd irritated with his "c'mons" and I suspect I've watched several more of his matches than you have, both in person and on television. Some individuals may not like his "c'mons" or his style, but this is just a matter of individual taste and not reflective of entire crowds of people.

The remarks he made about Dominik Hrbaty's shirt were clearly made in a light-hearted, joking fashion and he was smiling/laughing as he made those comments. Hrbaty himself had acknowledged before the match that he was taking a bit of a ribbing from several of the players about his shirt, and certainly many press articles have also poked fun. For example, Hrbaty said that Andre Agassi said "You should give it to the women's locker room." In light of these facts, I don't understand how you can conclude that Hewitt's remarks were "tasteless."

Lastly, your article implies that Hewitt lacks perspective and charity. With respect to perspective, I have read several journalists' comments that Hewitt can be relied upon for thoughtful answers to substantive questions. He continues to be widely quoted with his views sought on several matters. With respect to charity, I would like to point out that he has been involved with charity efforts, not usually widely or heavily publicized (at least not by him), for many years; for example the Special Olympics (globally) and the Starlight Foundation (in Australia). He recently helped out with the Make a Wish Foundation in New York. He also taped one of the public service announcements in support of Hurricane Katrina relief efforts and is donating to an upcoming auction. In fact, he has a history of participating in charity auctions and other activities. Further, the decisions to sell the media rights to the stories about his engagement and wedding were taken jointly with his wife, Bec Cartwright, and they've stated their intentions to donate at least part of the funds to an orphanage in Cambodia.

I am a fan of Lleyton Hewitt and have been so since 2001; however, please don't mistake me for an over-zealous fan, wearing blinkers or rose-coloured glasses. I recognize that Hewitt's had some regretful moments in his career, but who hasn't in their life? It seems to simply be his reluctance to fully engage the media that causes some of the media, such as yourself, to sensationalize these moments and apparently turn against him. Either that or you simply took sensationalized media headlines/articles at face value without doing research. It's a pity that such is taken so personally to the extent that journalistic integrity, and also simply good writing, is compromised in the way that is apparent in your article. Perhaps if the media could always be relied upon not to sensationalize events or comments (and I mean generally, not just specifically to Hewitt), Hewitt and others would have more trust in the media.

Regards,

Karen Bailey
Ottawa, Canada

 Hewitt stunned by personal attack
From Darren Walton in New York
September 12, 2005

LLEYTON Hewitt left Flushing Meadows without the US Open trophy and bewildered about a scathing personal attack on him and his entourage from The New York Times.

A story headlined "The only thing worse than c'mon! is incessant yes" - which also made its way into several major newspapers in Australia last week - said Hewitt was "self-absorbed" and surrounded by "yes men".

The article, written by Selena Roberts, also compared Australia's former world No.1 unfavourably to current top dog Roger Federer and has incensed Team Hewitt.

"The meaning of a number depends on who is No.1. As an ex-No.1, Lleyton Hewitt pulled off a rarity for him as he scurried around Arthur Ashe Stadium . . . without offending a linesman with a slur, infuriating his opponent with an obscene gesture or irritating the crowd with his excessive "C'mons", the story began.

"He didn't have enough time. It took only 94 minutes for Hewitt to dispense of Dominik Hrbaty in the fourth round of the US Open. Hewitt saved his tasteless remarks for later, when he poked at the holes cut into the shoulder blades of Hrbaty's shirt.

"Hewitt is unvarnished, irascible and impolitic. In other words, he hasn't changed a bit since he was the No.1 player in 2001 and 2002, when he created a trail of charged feuds with players and legal disputes with the ATP. He is as self-absorbed as ever.

"The difference in depth between Hewitt and Federer, and the divergence in their approach to No.1, is certainly two parts personality but at least one part entourage.

"Hewitt is surrounded by a bevy of yes men and sycophantic handlers, while Federer has chosen an agent-less existence, grounded by a girlfriend/manager who will tell the emperor off."

Before leaving New York today, Hewitt's manager Robert Aivatoglou said Team Hewitt had been stunned at the criticism.

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"Lleyton's disappointed. He doesn't understand where the motivation for this type of article comes from," Aivatoglou said.

"I'm not sure where it came from and I couldn't help but feel it was a personal attack. Why would you suddenly want to dig up or dredge up some old material."

Hewitt's behaviour in years gone by has polarised fans at Flushing Meadows, with many admiring his fighting spirit and as many others unable to relate to his often bullish ways.

The 24-year-old put himself offside with locals in 2001 when he was accused of making a racial slur in a five-set win over Afro-American James Blake.

But other than copping a $US1000 ($1300) fine for an audible obscenity during his second-round win over Jose Acasuso, Hewitt's on-court demeanour could not be faulted at this year's Open.

He actually appeared strangely subdued in several matches.

"You look at his behaviour and there's been absolutely nothing you could point your finger at him for," Aivatoglou said.

"When he said he wouldn't wear Hrbaty's shirt, everyone was laughing in the press room. Even Hrbaty had a smirk on his face when he was told.

"To say Lleyton is surrounded by 'yes men' . . . there is no way (coach) Roger (Rasheed) would put up with any of that s--t."

Aivatoglou said he was unsure whether Hewitt had contacted former fiance Kim Clijsters to congratulate the Belgian on her breakthrough victory in Saturday's women's final.

"I think he was pleased she won," he said. "She's been a great player for a long time and she deserves a major."
 

Lleyton slammed by US press
From Paul Malone in New York
September 9, 2005

LLEYTON Hewitt has received scalding criticism of his attitude from one of the most influential newspapers in America as he steadied himself for his final push at the US Open.

A New York Times columnist ridiculed Hewitt as "irascible and a control freak" and criticised his entourage.

In a report a day after Hewitt had reached the US Open quarter-finals for a sixth consecutive year, Times columnist and former tennis reporter Selena Roberts compared the Australian unfavourably with the attitude and approach to sporting stardom from world No.1 Roger Federer, who has won his past 15 sets against Hewitt.

"Hewitt is unvarnished, irascible and impolitic," Roberts wrote.

"He is as self-absorbed as always. In a year when he referred to an umpire with a gay slur, in a season when he nearly fought with a Davis Cup opponent, Hewitt also revealed the depths of his inner control freak.

"According to Australian reports, Hewitt sold the media rights to his spring engagement, summer wedding and wife's pregnancy. So far, no autographed pictures have surfaced on eBay."

Hewitt will undoubtedly not take the criticism to heart and could find further motivation from it as he looks to put his imprint on the US Open after making the quarter-finals for a sixth consecutive year - a feat beyond Australian greats Rod Laver and John Newcombe and American champions John McEnroe and Pete Sampras.

Roberts said Hewitt had not changed since he was a top-ranking player embroiled in legal disputes with the ATP in 2002 and 2003 and the differences in his approach to being No.1, when compared to Federer's were due to their differing personalities, but also the Australian's support crew.

"Hewitt is surrounded by a bevy of yes-men and sycophantic handlers, while Federer has chosen a liberating, agent-less existence, grounded by a girlfriend/manager who will tell the emperor off," Roberts claimed.

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It is not the first time that Hewitt has been castigated by US media organisations.

In July, American journalist Joel Drucker wrote an open letter to Hewitt in the American magazine Tennis which was critical of what he said was a lack of responsibility to tennis, particular in terms of his media availability.

"Are you a first-rate mate or a top-tier twerp?," Drucker wrote.

"Lleyton, what is it about you and your antics that even ticks off a man as gracious as James Blake?"

Some New York newspapers also castigated a 20-year-old Hewitt for making what they construed as accusations of racially-motivated bias against an African-American linesman in a match he played against Blake.

Roberts even found fault this week with Hewitt's tongue-in-cheek comments about the unusual pink shirt worn by his fourth-round victim Dominik Hrbaty.

"Hewitt had to save his typically tasteless remarks for later, when he poked at the holes designed and cut into the shoulder blades of Hrbaty's fashionista shirt," she said.

Hewitt had said at a press conference: "I wouldn't wear it, but it made it a lot easier for me to beat him. I just couldn't lose to a bloke wearing a shirt like that."

After reaching the quarter-finals for a sixth time at the age of 24, Hewitt, who plays Finn Jarkko Niemenin today for a semi-final berth, said he had no thoughts on retirement.

"It's a huge positive to have a great record here. It's not an easy grand slam to do well at, but I love playing in New York ... love the conditions," Hewitt said.

"I'd like to play as long as possible, as long as my body can put up with it. Who knows really? It's just a matter of taking as much care as possible with your body."

The Courier-Mail

Note from web administrator - I note that Paul Malone didnt defend our Lleyton, he merely reiterated what was printed in the US articles.

Rd 2 September 2

New York loves me, says Lleyton
Paul Malone
01sep05
LLEYTON Hewitt says New Yorkers have taken to him and his competitive spirit, glimpsing a similarity in him to the US Open's all-time favourite player Jimmy Connors.

And US Davis Cup captain Patrick McEnroe also has made a comparison this week between Hewitt and Connors, calling the 2001 Flushing Meadows champion "an Australian version of Connors".

Hewitt, the third seed, is looking to make the most of a draw which has opened up wide in front of him with the withdrawal of injured fifth seed Marat Safin and defeat yesterday for 12th seed Tim Henman.

Four years ago, Hewitt was heavily criticised by the New York press and sledged by sections of the Flushing Meadows crowds during matches when comments he made in a match against James Blake were construed as a racially motivated slight on the integrity of an African-American linesman.

"I always get support when I come back. The crowds have been awesome," said Hewitt, who does not have to beat a player ranked higher than Slovak Dominik Hrbaty at No. 15 to reach the semi-finals, where he is seeded to meet world No. 1 Roger Federer.

"They know that every time I step on the court I'm going to give 100 percent. I think that's the kind of attitude that a lot of New Yorkers people have here as well."

Hewitt compared himself with the popular Rafael Nadal, Spain's teenage second seed, in sharing the flamboyant streak of Connors, who won the US Open five times and galvanised the New York fans with his showmanship and passion.

"Bjorn Borg was very controlled, very cool and similar to Federer. Connors was similar to myself and Nadal," Hewitt said.

"We want to get the crowd involved. We play our best tennis when we're in that situation."

The winner of Hewitt's opening match against Spanish claycourter Albert Costa this morning (AEST) will meet Argentina's Jose Acasuso, ranked No. 43, or Peruvian Luis Horna, ranked 20 places lower.

Lleyton through to 3rd rd

He put up a good fight, but Jose Acasuso of Argentina couldn't fend off third-seeded Australian Lleyton Hewitt this afternoon in Louis Armstrong Stadium. Hewitt took the match in straight sets, 7-6, 7-6, 6-2.

Hewitt, a 2001 champion here, faced a man who before this week had yet to win a single US Open match… though not for lack of trying. He's made four previous appearances, each of them first-round exits.

The first set remained on-serve as the two first-time opponents felt each other out. With both men playing solid tennis, the set was forced to a tie-break, which Hewitt slimly managed to win.

The Australian was sidelined for the entire clay-court season, including the French Open, after taking a spill down the stairs of his Sydney abode and injuring his ribs.

Acasuso, on the other hand, fared well on the red clay of Roland Garros this year, with a career-high round-of-16 finish. He even managed a victory over Andy Roddick along the way.

The Argentine continued to progress throughout the summer months, winning three consecutive hard=court Tour matches for the first time in his career en route to a quarterfinal finish at AMS Cincinnati.

When Hewitt broke to begin the second set, it seemed as if the match's tight beginning had taken all of the Argentine's steam, but in the fourth game, Acasuso managed to convert his fourth break-point chance to level things off.

Then, with Acasuso up 6-5 in the second set, Hewitt served a ball to the ad court that went unsighted by the line judge. Chair umpire Pascal Moran also could not accurately call the point, and therefore decreed that it be replayed. Both players took issue with the ruling, each in turn heading over to the chair to challenge Moran. Eventually, the tournament referee was called over to clear things up: the official rules, he said, declared that when the point goes unseen by both the linesperson and the chair umpire, it must be replayed.

Despite the arguments, the ruling turned out to be to the Aussie's advantage. He went on to win the game, sending the match to a tie-break, which Hewitt barreled through, 7-6 (3).

Compared to the first two close sets, the third went rather quickly to Hewitt, who never went off the offensive. He'll see American Taylor Dent in round three.

Rd 1

LEAD UP

Federer takes swipe at Hewitt
By John Thirsk
August 28, 2005

WORLD No.1 Roger Federer says he has a clear mental edge over Lleyton Hewitt.

The Swiss sensation took aim at the Australian on the eve of the US Open starting at Flushing Meadows, New York, tomorrow.

Federer said: "I have an edge over him at the moment.

"That's clear with the matches I have beaten him in a row."

Federer holds a 10-7 win/loss record over Hewitt but Federer has dominated their matches over the past two years.

He is now on an eight-match winning streak over the newly married Hewitt.

Those wins include a crushing straight-sets victory in last year's US Open final where Federer took Hewitt's game apart to win 6-0 7-6 6-0.

Triple Wimbledon champion and former Davis Cup captain John Newcombe says Federer's game has Hewitt "walloped".

"I don't think Lleyton can beat Roger right now and Lleyton has to admit to himself that he's psyched out by Roger," Newcombe said.

"So he's got to overcome this attitude and he's got to go out on the court and say: 'Roger, I don't care what I'm going to have to do. If I have to rip your throat out I'm going to beat you."

Federer admitted he struggled to beat Hewitt in his early matches because of Hewitt's antics.

"I was struggling in the beginning with his way of acting on the court," Federer said. "Why is he doing this into my face?

"Is that not a little bit over the top? I felt like he was almost attacking me personally.

"Then, I realised he's just doing it to pump himself, which is fine.

"It all starts at the Australian Open. He's so excited to play in Australia and you have to respect that.

"Everybody gets a bad image of him, but then he calms down through the year.

"I'm also more emotional when I'm playing back home and he (Hewitt) wants to win the Australian Open so bad.

"I don't find him rude. Some players out there are worse than him."

Federer was speaking to 60 Minutes in Dubai in an interview to be shown tonight that highlights his remarkable relationship with Aussie coach Tony Roche.

The pair sweated it out in 50C heat during a 10-day training camp.

Roache said of Federer: "He's such an all round player which is a little unusual in today's tennis and he sort of reminds me a lot of Rod Laver," Roche said.

"He feels he's got an obligation to the game which I think is terrific and what you see is what you get."

The Sunday Mail (Qld)

Mac attacks Hewitt hopes
By Paul Malone
August 27, 2005

LLEYTON Hewitt walked into the US Open yesterday in silver shoes, but John McEnroe is positive he will not walk out with the silverware.

McEnroe, a four-time winner at Flushing Meadows, yesterday discarded Hewitt despite his exceptional US Open record as one of the five main title chances.

In a US publication, Brad Gilbert, the former top-10 player who coached Andre Agassi and Andy Roddick, named even more contenders, but found no place for Hewitt in his title calculations.

Hewitt, 24, has an imposing 29-5 win-loss record at Flushing Meadows, having made made the quarter-finals or better on each of the past five years. He won the title in 2001 and was runner-up last year.

The third seed practised impressively at Flushing Meadows yesterday in the clothes of his new sponsors, Yonex, hitting in silver-coloured shoes.

McEnroe named second seed Rafael Nadal, 19, and two American former winners in New York, Agassi and Roddick, as the men most likely to upset defending champion Roger Federer.

All three are in the bottom half of the draw, while Hewitt is seeded to meet Federer in the semi-finals, as he did at Wimbledon last month when the Swiss champion prevailed in three sets.

Hewitt's main role in local US Open promotions seems to be designed as a dramatic foil for Federer, Agassi and Roddick.

In a TV advert, his image appears behind the superimposed words "Bad Boys", with the moody Russian Marat Safin shown next after him.

He plays with intensity and he's the best bet to challenge Federer on a regular basis, particularly on a slow court.

"But it doesn't mean the game is boring because Roger's winning all the time. I don't know who can beat Roger here. Pete Sampras was saying recently that if Roger keeps it up like this for three or four years he will be the greatest player who ever lived."

Hewitt showed encouraging signs in his US Open campaign with his gutsy Cincinnati tournament when he returned from a virus which had forced his default in the Montreal Tennis Masters series event.

The Australian made the semi-finals, where he lost to world No.4 Roddick, and he looked sharp when he hit for an hour with French teenager Richard Gasquet, the 13th seed, yesterday.

McEnroe yesterday questioned whether Agassi, 35, was jeopardising his quality of life after retirement by taking cortisone injections to his back to give himself a chance of winning a third US Open title, 19 years after he made a swaggering arrival in grand slam tennis.

Agassi, the US Open's seventh seed, withdrew from Wimbledon in June because of his back condition and he did not defend his Cincinnati title last week.

"A lot has to go right for Andre to win it at his age. He needs short matches and some mild weather otherwise it's going to be too hard on his body," McEnroe said.

"I would be concerned about his use of cortisone and its effect on his long-term health. He has two kids and needs to think about the ramifications of trying to play through pain as so many athletes have done and realising one day they can't walk properly."

Lleyton's luck

August 26, 2005

LLEYTON Hewitt has the draw to march to the US Open semi-finals and spin the roulette wheel there against Roger Federer, his former Davis Cup captain John Newcombe believes.

Hewitt could have to beat both the men who frustrated him at the Australian Open and Wimbledon, Federer and Marat Safin, to reach the final of the US Open, which starts next week, and he has been seeded to play Federer in the semi-finals of a second consecutive grand slam event.

But Hewitt's first-week path at Flushing Meadows, which is his last chance this year to prevent a major title drought stretching to three years, brings him up against no one from inside the top 40 in the first two rounds and the erratic power of American Taylor Dent is seeded to be his third round task.

The Australian, seeded third, opens his campaign against a French Open champion, Albert Costa, but the clay-loving Spaniard has slumped in performance in recent months and is ranked No. 104.
Fifth seed Safin, who has been troubled by a knee injury in recent weeks, is his seeded quarter-final opponent in what would be a re-match of the Russian's Australian Open final win in January.

"It's not bad early for Lleyton and I think he can get through to the semis," Newcombe said yesterday.

"It would be a pretty silly man who would say he was going to beat Roger.

"Lleyton would be the first to say he wouldn't want to back himself at this stage.

"Lleyton's best chance is if something happens to Roger en route to the semis.

"But before that, I think Safin will struggle in the heat of a five-set match and I'm not sure how fit Taylor is.

"The rest of the tennis world has to figure out how to improve because Roger's won 22 finals in a row. He's starting to get like Edwin Moses [who won 122 successive 400m hurdles races in the 1980s]. But next year, starting with the Australian Open, Lleyton can have a really good year because he will be fresh as a daisy."

Mark Philippoussis's luck kept running with the wildcard he received from the US Tennis Association giving him a first-up match with Slovak veteran Karol Kucera, a ormer top-10 player ranked No. 142 after injury kept him off the circuit for the first six months of the year.

"Things will get pretty serious if he [Philippoussis] doesn't get something going by the end of the year.

"You would start to wonder how he is going to get into the tournaments with his ranking [currently at No. 208]," said Newcombe.

In the women's draw, Australian Alicia Molik, seeded 14th, plays American wildcard Shenay Perry, ranked No. 122, in the first round, and is then seeded to be world No. 1 Maria Sharapova's opponent in the fourth round .

"I feel fresh after having such a frustrating feeling around the time of the French Open and Wimbledon [events which she rested from]," Molik said from New Haven, where she is preparing for her second tournament back from a three-month recovery over a middle-ear condition.

"I can't wait to get my form back to where it was in the first three months or so of the year and I know I'm heading in the right direction."

Victorian Peter Luczak is the only Australian left in qualifying at Flushing Meadows with two rounds to go after Australia's third-ranked woman Evie Dominikovic lost to the experienced Croatian Silvija Talaja 7-5 7-6 (7-5).

All three Australian men are in the top half of the main draw with Philippoussis a long-shot contender to meet Hewitt in the fourth round and Wayne Arthurs drawing Italian Davide Sanguinetti.

Hewitt cops rough Open draw
Date: 25/08/05
By Darren Walton
seven.com.au

Even by his combative standards, Lleyton Hewitt has a monumental fight on his hands trying to win a second US Open title at Flushing Meadows.

For a third seed and former champion, there was little to smile about for Hewitt at the draw in New York for the final grand slam of 2005 starting on Monday.

If being dumped in the same side of the draw as nigh unstoppable world No.1 Roger Federer wasn't hard enough to swallow, Hewitt also had to digest the fact he must negotiate a series of danger zones just to reach a semi-final against his Swiss nemesis.

Hewitt should ease past 2002 French Open champion Albert Costa, a fading force now ranked No.102 in the world, to set up a second-round meeting with either fast-rising Argentine Jose Acasuso or Peru's Luis Horna.

Then comes the real difficulties for Australia's perennial hope.

He faces a potential third-round date with 25th seed Taylor Dent, the American who conquered Hewitt in Adelaide this year and who habitually troubles the former world No 1.

If still alive in the second week, a fourth-round clash with British 12th seed Tim Henman or 15th-seeded Slovak Dominik Hrbaty beckons, before the might and power of Russian fifth seed Marat Safin looms large in the quarter-finals.

Safin, the 2000 US Open winner, beat Hewitt in this year's Australian Open decider and is always a massive hurdle to clear late in the grand slam events.

Federer, with nine titles already under his belt this season, awaits in the semi-finals with second seed Rafael Nadal, fourth seed Andy Roddick and seventh seed Andre Agassi all in the bottom half of the draw.

Federer opens his campaign for back-to-back Open crowns against Czech Ivo Minar, while Nadal plays American Bobby Reynolds, Roddick takes on Gilles Muller of Luxembourg and Safin meets big-serving German Alexander Popp.

Australian wildcard Mark Philippoussis has drawn veteran Slovak Karol Kucera and - having not won a match since Wimbledon - would not be looking as far ahead as a possible fourth-round showdown with Hewitt.

Wayne Arthurs opens against Italy's David Sanguinetti, while Peter Luczak is the only one of five Australians to progress past the first round of the men's qualifying tournament.

Seeking one of 16 qualifying spots, Luczak next plays Chile's Adrian Garcia after beating Belgian 17th seed Kristof Vliegen 6-4 6-2.

But Chris Guccione, Nathan Healey, Marc Kimmich and Robert Smeets all lost on the opening day of qualifiers, as did Evie Dominikovic to leave Alicia Molik, Sam Stosur and Nicole Pratt as the only Australians in the women's main draw.

It would be unfair to expect much from Molik who lost in the first round at New Haven this week as she attempts another comeback from the inner ear infection which has cruelled a 2005 season that promised so much.

Any draw would seem somewhat daunting for the 24-year-old in those circumstances, and she will not be thrilled to have landed in the same section as world No.1 Maria Sharapova.

The South Australian can take some comfort from her No.14 seeding if not from her modest record at Flushing Meadows, where she has yet to advance past the third round in six visits.

Molik will open against America's world No.122 Shenay Perry and Sharapova is likely to be waiting in ambush in the third round.

Stosur has drawn a qualifier first up, while Pratt, now ranked a lowly 136, will play Japan's world No.43 Akiko Morigami.

Hewitt confident of strong U.S. Open showing

By Simon Cambers

CINCINNATI, Aug 21 (Reuters) - Former U.S. Open champion Lleyton Hewitt believes his run to the semi-finals at the Cincinnati Masters sets him up perfectly for another assault on the title at Flushing Meadows.

The Australian, who will be seeded third in New York, lost to American Andy Roddick in Cincinnati, but pulled out of Montreal the week before with a virus, his confidence is high as he prepares for the final grand slam event of the year.

"It's been pretty good this week," said Hewitt, who won his first grand slam title at Flushing Meadows in 2001.

"I could easily have lost in the second round to Greg Rusedski. To come through that and have some tough matches is very good.

"It's great preparation for the U.S. Open. I think I've got better as the week's gone on. If I can keep practicing the next week hard, next Monday hopefully my game will be at an even stronger point."

Hewitt began the year in style, reaching the final of his home grand slam for the first time, before losing in four sets to Russian Marat Safin.

Injury and illness caused him to skip the claycourt season, but he showed his appetite for the big occasion when he reached the semi-finals at Wimbledon, losing to eventual champion Roger Federer.

In Cincinnati he improved with every match and had he taken his chances against Roddick he could easily have beaten the American for the sixth time in eight meetings.

"I felt a little bit tired the whole match," Hewitt said.

"Obviously, we played a few matches, and I'm backing up after not feeling great last week. So I can't say I've had the most energy this week.

"I can walk away and know that there was a couple of points, a breakpoint in the first set and he hit the edge of the line. A couple of inches, and I'm serving to go up 5-2 in the first.

"You know, it's a game of inches, and a couple went his way."

Hewitt has a consistent record at the U.S. Open. Since winning it in 2001 he has never failed to reach the quarter-final and was runner-up last year to an inspired Federer.



Updated on Sunday, Aug 21, 2005 2:10 pm EDT