Hewitt looks forward to French test
Hewitt looks forward to French test and puts failures behind him
May 22, 2004
Duesseldorf, Germany: Former world No.1 Lleyton Hewitt believes he is enjoying
his best form on clay heading into next week's French Open in Paris.
Hewitt has a poor record at Roland Garros stadium but he has renewed confidence
ahead of the year's second grand slam.
"I think every year I'm getting better and better on clay," Hewitt said at the
World Team Cup, where he hoped to take Australia into Saturday's final.
"I've already done better in the [clay] tournaments I've played in this year
compared with last but I still need to improve before France," added Hewitt,
who won the US Open in 2001 and Wimbledon in 2002.
"I've had another year of playing the best players on clay. I always find it a
test to play on clay but I am learning and I think it is showing in how I play
the game and how I feel on court."
Hewitt had a difficult 2003 despite winning two ATP Tour events. He failed to
progress past the quarter-final of any grand slam, was beaten in the first
round at Wimbledon as defending champion and slipped down the rankings,
losing his place as Australian No.1 to Mark Philippoussis.
Having put 2003 down to experience, the 23-year-old Hewitt has already won
two titles this year, although the wins in Sydney and Rotterdam have been
countered by the disappointment of a fourth-round exit at the Australian Open
in January.
Despite his up-and-down form, Hewitt lies sixth in the 2004 ATP Race and
demonstrated his mettle on clay at the recent Hamburg Masters, where only a
top-class performance from world No.1 Roger Federer stopped him progressing
to the final.
Perhaps more important is the fact that Hewitt appears to have rediscovered
the self-confidence and enjoyment of the game that drove him to the top of
the world rankings in 2001 aged just 20.
"I didn't win too many tournaments last year but I don't let that worry me
because I am more comfortable this year so far," he said.
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