Ring-rusty Hewitt struggles past Clement
Ring-rusty Hewitt struggles past Clement
2 hours, 24 minutes ago
HAMBURG, Germany (AFP) - Ring-rusty top-seed and former world number one Lleyton
Hewitt survived a tremendous challenge from Frenchman Arnaud Clement to reach
the third round of the 2.45-million-dollar Hamburg Masters.
The Australian, playing only his second match after a four week absence from the
tour, won the marathon second round encounter 6-7 (7/9), 6-4, 7-6 (8/6).
Wimbledon (news - web sites) champion Hewitt had already come through a tough
three-set first round match here against German wild-card Markus Hantschk.
At least Hewitt managed to survive a dramatic day which saw another impressive
performance by Spanish 16-year-old Rafael Nadal.
The teenager, who defeated French Open (news - web sites) champion Albert Costa
in Monte Carlo last month, repeated the magic here by defeating countryman, ment
or and second seed Carlos Moya, another Roland Garros winner, 7-5, 6-4.(是被小希
的比賽激勵到ㄌ嗎...哈)
Costa's preparations for his French Open defence suffered another setback when
the fifth-seed lost to Belgium's Olivier Rochus 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (7/3).
Also heading for the exit was America's Andy Roddick, the fourth seed, who was
beaten by Argentina's Agustin Calleri 3-6, 6-2, 6-3.
Britain's four-time Wimbledon semi-finalist Tim Henman showed he was over his
shoulder problem as he overcame 10th seeded Frenchman Sebastien Grosjean 6-0,
3-6, 6-2.
The 28-year-old looked a different player to the one who had won only two
matches in his four tournaments since returning from his right shoulder injury
as he overwhelmed Grosjean in the first set.
Despite a second set blip, Henman returned to his blistering form in the decider
and made light of his recent slump to 108th in the world with a swashbuckling
display on a surface which doesn't suit his serve and volley game although
Grosjean's resistance was hampered by a thigh injury and an interruption for
rain.
"I can't remember the last time I won two matches in a row," said Henman.
"It's been something I'm working towards. I certainly haven't hidden behind the
fact that I need to win matches. Today was another important step for me. I'm in
the third round of a Masters Series.
"That's nothing to get carried away with, but it's certainly moving in the right
direction."
Henman also said that his claycourt game has been sharpened by playing doubles
with triple French Open winner Gustavo Kuerten.
"We needed to play more matches, spend more time on the match court and we had a
lot of fun last week and likewise this week," said the Briton.
"We wanted to play and play that extra game. I'm enjoying it. That only go to he
lp our singles, which is obviously the most important thing."
The doubles partnership has also paid dividends for the Brazilian (news - web
sites) who reached the third round with a 7-5, 6-0 win over Russia's Nikolai
Davydenko.
Spain's Felix Mantilla, who won the Rome Masters last week, came crashing down
losing to Chile's Fernando Gonzalez, 6-2, 6-1 while fellow Spaniard Tommy
Robredo, seeded 14, also made his exit losing 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 to Argentina's
Mariano Zabaleta.
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