There's something about Lleyton...
There's something about Lleyton...
By Nyree Epplett
Tuesday, May 25, 2004
You’ve got to admit it. There’s something about Lleyton Hewitt that French
tennis fans just don’t like.
Is it is his brash arrogance, or those ‘in-your-face’ cries of “C’mon”?
Perhaps it’s his propensity for on-court gesticulation and self-combustion.
And then there’s the persistent questioning of line calls…
On Court One late Monday it was probably a combination of all of the above.
Oh, and the fact he was playing a Frenchman…
And so it was, amidst whistles and boos and rhythmic clapping from the
partisan crowd, Hewitt valiantly carried the hopes of a nation into the
second round. The former world No1 beat the cramping journeyman Arnaud di
Pasquale in four long sets 6-0 7-6(5) 4-6 6-1.
And with the gutsy triumph came the heavy weight of expectation. He is the
only Australian man left standing after the likes of Philippoussis, Arthurs
and Reid tripped up on the red dirt on day one.
Against the French wildcard a composed Hewitt hung tough behind the baseline,
whipping up a lethal cocktail of inside-out forehands and screaming
double-handed backhands from all angles.
He slammed six aces and 37 winners during the grueling three hour, six
minute contest but struggled with an inconsistent service game. And when
his back was to the wall, he recovered fearlessly to break the spirit of
di Pasquale and race through the fourth set in 32 minutes.
“I didn’t feel too bad. I still feel like I’m getting better and better
on it (clay),” said Hewitt, adding that he hoped his generous dose of
claycourt tennis in the lead-in to this event would pay off. The Australian
played Monte Carlo, Rome, Hamburg (where he reached the semi finals) and
last week he led Australia to the World Team Cup final in D榊seldorf.
Although the Frenchman suffered severe cramping in his left leg throughout
the final set, unable to sit down at the change of ends, Hewitt remained
focused until the end.
“It’s always difficult playing your first match in a Grand Slam event,
wherever it is...He had nothing to lose but I’ve got a lot of respect for
him too. Any French player is going to be extremely tough in their home
Grand Slam.
“I’ll give 100 percent like I always do and see what happens,” said the
Aussie, who meets Austrian Jurgen Melzer next, who he beat in Hamburg in
straight sets.
“I’ve gotta be prepared to play a long match,” said the 12th seed.
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