Fans hit home for Lleyton
By Patrick Miles and agencies, Wimbledon
July 01, 2002
THE Australians are pouring into the All England Club from all corners of London, bearing flags and footy jumpers, sensing the chance to back a compatriot into the final for the third consecutive year.

Just like Pat Rafter for the past two years, it is Lleyton Hewitt's turn to carry the hopes of his nation as he faces Russia's Mikhail Youzhny tonight (AEST) for a place in the quarter-finals.

Hewitt, the top seed, swept into the last 16, beating Austria's Julian Knowle 6-2 6-1 6-3 in convincing fashion.

"It's good when you walk out there and see guys wearing Darren Jarman's No. 3 (Adelaide Crows) jersey, and holding up a banner," Hewitt said.

"It made me feel right at home. It felt like I was playing the Australian Open out there. All three of my matches so far have been fantastic.

"Obviously, I saw the craziness of last year's final when Pat was out there. It's a good atmosphere to play in. It's like playing a footy match."

Hewitt was in superb form against Knowle, but he knows he will need another gear against Youzhny. The Russian knocked out Frenchman Nicolas Escude, Hewitt's fourth-round nemesis at Wimbledon last year.

"It's going to be tough," he said. "I played him last week for the first time, in Rosmalen – tough match. I didn't play my best tennis. I feel like I can improve on that.

"He played well here last year. I saw him play Pat in the fourth round. He took the first set.

"He obviously feels pretty accustomed to playing on grass now. He moves well. He's got a really nice backhand. I'm going to have to go up another level."

Hewitt is one of only two grand slam champions left in the men's draw, the other being Richard Krajicek, of The Netherlands, who won here in 1996.

Victory for Hewitt against Youzhny would bring on the winner between another Dutchman, Sjeng Schalken, and Romania's Adrian Voinea.

Thereafter lies the possibility of a semi-final against Englishman Tim Henman, who meets Switzerland's Michel Kratochvil in the last 16.

In the bottom half of the draw, Australia has two representatives, both of whom have the ability to advance.

Mark Philippoussis and Krajicek will do battle, while another big server, Wayne Arthurs, plays Argentina's David Nalbandian.

While Australia celebrates three out of 16 participants, the US, once the powerhouse of men's tennis, have crashed to their worst Wimbledon showing in 80 years.

Yesterday the last American standing, lucky loser Jeff Morrison – who entered the draw with Tommy Haas's withdrawal – falling in straight sets to 18th seed Schalken.

Following the exit of seven-time champion Pete Sampras, former champion Andre Agassi and up-and-comer Andy Roddick, Morrison had been carrying the Stars and Stripes on his shoulders.

The US, who are second only to Britain in men's singles titles – 33 over 115 years – will have no representative in the fourth round for the first time since 1922.

"I didn't know I was the last remaining American. It didn't even dawn on me," Morrison said.

He does not believe the disappointing showing means there is a crisis in American men's tennis.

"There's a good group of guys up and coming, doing well. People are getting a little impatient, but there are guys on the verge of reaching the top 100 and when they do no-one will be talking anymore."

With all the wisdom of his 18 years, Mario Ancic, who created such a stir by beating Roger Federer on centre court, has created an even bigger one by sacking Bob Brett, widely recognised as one of the world's best coaches.

Ancic told Brett he wanted to end their relationship immediately after he lost his second-round match to Jan Vacek, but insisted Wimbledon had nothing to do with it.

Hewitt lays down gauntlet