SabHewitt's decline
January 22nd 2007 02:43
Australia’s number 1 tennis player, Lleyton Hewitt, appears at the crossroads in his decorated career.
Australian tennis has been at its lowest ebb in recent years, following the retirement of Pat Rafter in 2001 and the injuries and inconsistencies that have played Mark Philippoussis. No Australian young junior has emerged, with the likes of Todd Reid and Chris Guccione showing talent but seemingly not being able to regularly make an impact in the major tournaments.
All eyes on Australian Tennis have been focused on Hewitt. He has been the flag bearer for a country with a rich tennis tradition. However Hewitt, himself has been on the wane for the last twelve months, which ended with a disappointing 3rd round loss to Fernando Gonzalez in the Australian Open.
Hewitt played his first Australian Open at 15, and burst into prominence as a 16 year old with an upset win against the great Andre Agassi on his way to his home tournament win in Adelaide. Hewitt’s career never looked back as he quickly won two Davis Cups for Australia in 1999 and 2003, and in the process became the country’s most successful singles player in the cup’s history.
Not only was Hewitt a great performer for his country, he also achieved amazingly individually. At age 20, Hewitt stunned the tennis world with a straight sets demolition of the great Pete Sampras in US Open Final to claim his first gland slam. He would also add a Masters title and finish 2001 as the number 1 player in the world.
2002 was another great year as Hewitt won Wimbledon and another Masters, to again finish the year as number 1. However the tennis world was catching up. The very talented Roger Federer was a constant disappointment in Grand Slams however his breakthrough Wimbledon win in 2003 was the start of his dominance- which has seen him possibly become the greatest ever male tennis player. Andy Roddick was another who emerged in 2003 with a US Open victory, and his big game ensures he has a greater scope of improvement in his game compared to Hewitt.
To his credit, Hewitt revels in adversity and whilst many people wrote him off, he came back to play perhaps career best tennis in 2004 and 2005. Hewitt lost both the US Open final and Masters Final to that man Federer in 2004, and in 2005 reached the final of the Australian Open. With Federer a shock semi final loser, the scene was set for a first Australian winner since 1976. However Marat Safin produced some of his explosive best tennis to claim the title.
Since the Safin final, Hewitt’s life changed with the marriage to soap star Bec Cartwright- making the couple one of the most glamorous in Australia. Hewitt became a dad in late 2005.
In the past 12 months Hewitt has struggled badly. His ranking is hovering outside the top 20 and he no longer looks capable of matching it with the heavy hitters. The rise of players such as Rafael Nadal, James Black and Andy Murray, along with Federer, Roddick and Safin, has ensured Hewitt’s decline as a major force in the game.
Hewitt no longer has an aura about him, as other players don’t fear his great mental powers. Hewitt has always been blessed with being too good for the opposition with his strength of mind, however even that has diminished over time.
My prediction is that Hewitt won’t win another grand slam. He is turning 26, which sounds young, but he has been playing professionally for 10 years. I believe he is still capable of being a top 10-20 player and will regularly make quarters and semis at slams but I can’t see him getting any better in the near future.
Australian tennis has been at its lowest ebb in recent years, following the retirement of Pat Rafter in 2001 and the injuries and inconsistencies that have played Mark Philippoussis. No Australian young junior has emerged, with the likes of Todd Reid and Chris Guccione showing talent but seemingly not being able to regularly make an impact in the major tournaments.
All eyes on Australian Tennis have been focused on Hewitt. He has been the flag bearer for a country with a rich tennis tradition. However Hewitt, himself has been on the wane for the last twelve months, which ended with a disappointing 3rd round loss to Fernando Gonzalez in the Australian Open.
Hewitt played his first Australian Open at 15, and burst into prominence as a 16 year old with an upset win against the great Andre Agassi on his way to his home tournament win in Adelaide. Hewitt’s career never looked back as he quickly won two Davis Cups for Australia in 1999 and 2003, and in the process became the country’s most successful singles player in the cup’s history.
Distraction?
Not only was Hewitt a great performer for his country, he also achieved amazingly individually. At age 20, Hewitt stunned the tennis world with a straight sets demolition of the great Pete Sampras in US Open Final to claim his first gland slam. He would also add a Masters title and finish 2001 as the number 1 player in the world.
2002 was another great year as Hewitt won Wimbledon and another Masters, to again finish the year as number 1. However the tennis world was catching up. The very talented Roger Federer was a constant disappointment in Grand Slams however his breakthrough Wimbledon win in 2003 was the start of his dominance- which has seen him possibly become the greatest ever male tennis player. Andy Roddick was another who emerged in 2003 with a US Open victory, and his big game ensures he has a greater scope of improvement in his game compared to Hewitt.
To his credit, Hewitt revels in adversity and whilst many people wrote him off, he came back to play perhaps career best tennis in 2004 and 2005. Hewitt lost both the US Open final and Masters Final to that man Federer in 2004, and in 2005 reached the final of the Australian Open. With Federer a shock semi final loser, the scene was set for a first Australian winner since 1976. However Marat Safin produced some of his explosive best tennis to claim the title.
Since the Safin final, Hewitt’s life changed with the marriage to soap star Bec Cartwright- making the couple one of the most glamorous in Australia. Hewitt became a dad in late 2005.
In the past 12 months Hewitt has struggled badly. His ranking is hovering outside the top 20 and he no longer looks capable of matching it with the heavy hitters. The rise of players such as Rafael Nadal, James Black and Andy Murray, along with Federer, Roddick and Safin, has ensured Hewitt’s decline as a major force in the game.
Hewitt no longer has an aura about him, as other players don’t fear his great mental powers. Hewitt has always been blessed with being too good for the opposition with his strength of mind, however even that has diminished over time.
My prediction is that Hewitt won’t win another grand slam. He is turning 26, which sounds young, but he has been playing professionally for 10 years. I believe he is still capable of being a top 10-20 player and will regularly make quarters and semis at slams but I can’t see him getting any better in the near future.
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