Hewitt reaps reward of rest
Hewitt reaps reward of rest Friday, 11 June, 2004
Lleyton Hewitt has faced the twin sporting imposters of triumph and disaster
on each of his last two outings on Wimbledon's Centre Court.
In 2002, while at the peak of his powers, the Australian swept all before him,
dropping only two sets en route to winning the championship.
But ignominy followed the glory and on his return a year later, the pre-
tournament favourite became the first defending champion to lose in the first
round for 36 years.
However, that five-set loss to unheralded Croat Ivo Karlovic proved a watershed
and helped push Hewitt towards a career-changing decision.
Then aged 22, he went into self-imposed tennis exile - bar Davis Cup duty -
after exiting the quarter-finals of the US Open.
"There were times last year when I felt I needed a few more weeks off than I
needed in the previous couple of years," Hewitt explained to BBC Sport.
"With so many big matches in such a short period I felt I needed three or four
weeks off as opposed to one or two, I needed that block of time off.
"You've got to listen to your body in a lot of ways, especially if you want
to have a long career and a successful career, and especially with the style
of play that I play."
Hewitt, who had been hailed as the next tennis great after winning the US Open
in 2001 and then Wimbledon, tumbled down the rankings.
But many believe he is now feeling the benefit of his first serious break
since qualifying for the Australian Open at the age of 15 in 1997, including
Aussie great John Newcombe.
"You could see Lleyton had less and less on his game and was just hanging in
there on spirit alone," Newcombe said.
"Now you see he's like a new person out there again. He's back."
Tim Henman stole the headlines with his performance in Paris in reaching the
semi-finals, but Hewitt's own progress to the quarter-finals buoyed his
supporters ahead of another attempt on Wimbledon.
And nowhere will he be more fired up to prove that point than at Wimbledon.
"Everyone holds Wimbledon up as one of their favourite tournaments to watch
so for me it was extra special to win," he added.
"In Australia it's the biggest tournament in the world and it's a great place
to be.
"It's still on grass, which a lot of tournaments back in Australia used to be,
including the Australian Open, and there's the history that Australian players
have at that club.
"We've had so many great champions over such a long period who have played so
well at Wimbledon.
"We've done so well there in the past that a lot of people expect us to keep
doing well."
Hewitt is the leading light in the Antipodean army marching on SW19, and
although he may not be arriving with the fanfare he enjoyed last year, he
will be putting up a brighter and better fight.
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