Ideal build-up has Lleyton cock-a-hoop
Ideal build-up has Lleyton cock-a-hoop
By LEO SCHLINK in Melbourne January 19, 2004
LLEYTON Hewitt yesterday declared his game to be in perfect order as the former
world champion prepared to lay siege to an elusive Australian Open crown.
The Wimbledon and US Open winner is brimming with confidence after stretching
his unbeaten streak to 11 matches by winning the adidas International on
Saturday when Carlos Moya withdrew with a serious ankle injury after only
seven games.
The 22-year-old and Mark Philippoussis once again carry the hopes of ending a
28-year drought for Australian men at the Open.
It was 1976 when the last Aussie male won the event – Mark Edmondson beating
John Newcombe.
Hewitt has rediscovered his best form after a troubled 12 months. Philippoussis
finally realised his potential in the past year with his appearance in the
Wimbledon final.
Hewitt tomorrow will play 195th-ranked American qualifier Cecil Mamitt, having
never lost a set to the baseliner in two meetings.
Philippoussis will make his first appearance in a difficult opening match
against Thomas Johannson tomorrow.
Unable to pass the Open's fourth round in seven attempts, Hewitt believes he
may now have struck on the best Melbourne Park preparation with his unbowed
winning sequence taking in the Hopman Cup and the adidas.
"It's been the ideal preparation for me so far," Hewitt said yesterday after
practising on centre court with Sydney teenager Todd Reid.
"At the Hopman Cup, going out there and getting off to a good start, winning
all three matches until Alicia [Molik] got hurt.
"Last week just felt like I built it up, got better and better, I knew it was
going to be a tough match against Carlos.
"The seven games that we did get to play was a very high standard. It's left
me in good preparation. I didn't waste too much energy, but I've got that
confidence of coming through a few matches.
"I feel good. I love coming to Rod Laver Arena, especially now that I've been
able to have some of my most memorable matches and life experiences in the
Davis Cup semi and final.
"To beat a guy like Roger Federer in the situation I was in that match and to
come back – he'd won Wimbledon – and fight it off after he'd served for the
match in the third set.
"Not only that, I took three months off to get ready for the Davis Cup final
knowing that I was going to have to play Juan Carlos Ferrero.
"To come out and win that in five sets was an awesome finish to last year and
hopefully it can be better this year."
The men's draw is an exciting one for Australia with youngsters Reid and Chris
Guccione both having taken prized scalps in the past week at the adidas
International.
At the other end of the scale is the defending men's champion Andre Agassi who
continues to defy age (he turns 34 in April) while chasing his fifth Open
title.
Hewitt, meanwhile, repeated his call for Australian supporters to turn out
clad in green and gold in the hope local spectators can replicate the spirit
of Davis Cup.
It [crowd support] really just gives us an extra leg when you're out there
because when you're down on the canvas, you've gotta get up," he said.
"When you've got the whole crowd lifting you up, there's no better feeling
than that.
"It's more so here because you've got to come through and win seven
best-of-five matches. In Davis Cup, maybe it's only two best-of-five matches,
so it's a huge thing."
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Hewitt-practicing in the Melbourne Park
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Beaten last season by inspired Moroccan Younes el Aynaoui, Hewitt lost the previous year to Spaniard Alberto Martin when he was afflicted by chicken pox.
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