The Hindu : Hewitt aims to end Aussie heartache

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jul 07, 2002

Sport

Sport - Tennis

Hewitt aims to end Aussie heartache

Lleyton Hewitt... the latest Australian tennis hope is a match away from restoring the Aussie pride at Wimbledon, the most prestigious of Grand Slams. — AFP

London July 6. Lleyton Hewitt hopes to kickstart a new golden age of Australian tennis by winning the Wimbledon title tomorrow on the Centre Court which his countrymen once graced with ten championships in twelve years.

From 1960 to 1971, Australian legends Rod Laver, John Newcombe, Roy Emerson and Neale Fraser dominated the men's singles here with those ten titles but in the last 30 years only Pat Cash, in 1987, has managed to add to the nation's glories.

Now the brash and controversial 21-year-old Hewitt, who became the youngest ever World No. 1 last year and is the reigning U.S. Open champion, hopes to restore Australian pride at the most prestigious of the Grand Slams by adding the Wimbledon title to the 15 championships he has already secured in his young career.

Hewitt is also being spurred on by fellow Aussie Pat Rafter who was runner-up here for the last two years losing memorable finals against Pete Sampras in 2000, and Goran Ivanisevic in 2001.

``I spoke to Pat and he wished me all the best and said that the whole of Australia is behind me,'' said top-seed Hewitt after his impressive 7-5, 6-1, 7-5 defeat of Britain's fourth seed Tim Henman in the semi-final.

``That's a great feeling to have because there's been such a great Australian tradition at Wimbledon and it's fantastic that I've been able to carry that through this year just as Pat has done in the last few years.

``Reaching the final here hasn't yet sunk in, but it is an incredible feeling to see all those champions up on the board who have lifted the trophy here. It's what every Australian kid dreams about from the time they pick up a racquet.

``They dream of being in this situation and for me to have done it at 21, it's just incredible.''

His destruction of Henman, widely tipped to end Britain's 66 year wait for a men's title here, was breathtaking as he hit 33 winners to the Briton's 14 and just nine unforced errors to his opponent's 30.

Hewitt said he had never thought about reaching the final here having only ever made it to the round of 16 last year, his best performance in four previous attempts.

``I had never got beyond the second week here so I hadn't even thought about winning but that prospect comes into your mind more when you are only one match away. Before that, I didn't want to get too far ahead of myself.''

The last ten months have been a roller-coaster ride for the controversial Australian who sparks admiration and disdain in equal measure. "Everything that's happened in the last year has been incredible, winning a Grand Slam at 20, then to go on and become the youngest number one.

"It's beyond all my expectations. To have a shot at another Grand Slam at the age of just 21, it really is a great feeling,'' said Hewitt.

"I'll go out there on Sunday, play my game, put my head down and see what happens.''

— AFP

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