2008 news and updates

Sept 10

Sept 9

Aug 23

Australian Davis Cup teammates will struggle to carry on as Lleyton Hewitt recovers after finally submitting to the hip surgery which could revitalise his career.

But with the former No. 1 out in a best-case scenario until January's Australian Open, the nation's Davis Cup relegation date next September 19-21 against Chile could be looking dicey for the team.

“I'm shattered that I can’t lead the Australian Davis Cup team in Chile in our bid to rejoin the World Group”, said Hewitt. “I open that the boys can still come through with a great win”.

The away tie in South American will be a tough ask for the fading tennis power.

Patchy Chris Guccione, a first-round loser in five of his last six tournaments, will be the lone Aussie man straight into the US Open. He will also be the point man for a depleted Davis team.

The big man holds three singles wins this season in the worldwide team competition against minimal opponents Taiwan and Thailand. Chile will definitely be a step up in quality, with Olympic silver medallist Fernando Gonzalez leading the home stand on clay.

It's going to be a tough decision for captain John Fitzgerald and coach Darren Cahill. “My heart goes out to Lleyton, I know how much he loves to play for his country and how badly he wants us to win our way back into the World Group”, said Fitzy.

”He's the best performed Davis Cup player in our history, so they are big shoes to fill. We hope he makes a speedy recovery and he'll be playing by the Australian summer. With Lleyton out it is an opportunity for someone else to step up“.

Aug 19

Lleyton Hewitt today revealed that he has had to withdraw from the US Open next week after having surgery to his troubled hip area.

After exhausting every other possibility, other than surgery, recently at the Olympics Hewitt found it impossible and frustrating not being able to continue to play and be competitive at the highest level. “ Surgery was always the last resort, but unfortunately that’s what it came down to.” Hewitt said.

The surgery consisted of a hip arthroscopy and repairing of a hip labral tear.

Hewitt explained that he was extremely disappointed at missing the US Open, a grand slam event where he has enjoyed much success in the past.

“I am also shattered that I can’t lead the Australian Davis Cup team in Chile in our bid to rejoin the world group, and hope that the boys can still come through with a great win”.

Hewitt will now focus on his rehabilitation before commencing training for the Australian Summer Circuit. “I am looking forward to playing again in January in my home country, and using that as a springboard to compete at my best again on the world stage for at least a couple of more years”.

Aug 15

Aug 14

Lleyton Hewitt avenged Tuesday night's straight sets exit at the hands of Rafael Nadal in the singles by stunning the Spaniard in the doubles on Thursday morning (AEST) at the Beijing Olympics.

Hewitt and Chris Guccione progressed to the quarter finals after beating Nadal and Tommy Robredo in straight sets 6-2, 7-6 (7-5).

The result was a major upset, with Nadal (108) and Robredo's (80) doubles rankings far outstripping the less-fancied Hewitt (634) and Guccione (253).

The win comes after the Australians prevailed over Argentinians Agustin Santiago Calleri and Juan Monaco on Monday evening in a marathon three-setter that continued long into the night.

That match clearly sapped the energy of Hewitt, who was soundly beaten by the incoming singles world number one Nadal the next day.

But Guccione and Hewitt made faster work of Wednesday night's match, and despite a tight last set the contest was over in an hour and 24 minutes.

The Australian pair will face top seeded Americans Mike and Bob Bryan in the next round.

Aug 13

Australia's Lleyton Hewitt has set his sights on revenge against Rafael Nadal in the Olympic doubles tournament after being bundled out of the singles by the Spaniard.

Hewitt, still feeling the effects of a marathon, late-night doubles match which set a modern-day record, fell 6-1, 6-2 to the incoming world number one.

But the 27-year-old Hewitt gets another chance for victory on Wednesday when he lines up with Chris Guccione against Nadal and Tommy Robredo.

"It's going to be a tough match. He plays a little bit of doubles, but not a lot," said Hewitt.

"'Gooch' and I got a lot of confidence out of last night's match. It was one of the most enjoyable matches I've been a part of, and I've played in some pretty big matches."

The Australian pair outlasted Argentina's Juan Monaco and Agustin Calleri 4-6, 7-6 (7-4), 18-16 in the early hours of Tuesday morning, the most number of games in an Olympic men's doubles match since the sport's return in 1988.

Hewitt, clearly not at his best after the late-night finish, never looked competitive against Nadal and was broken five times.

"It wasn't easy. I put a lot of effort into last night's match, probably didn't get to bed until about 3:00am," he said.

"So it wasn't the best preparation. Rafa's a tough enough player to play when you're feeling 100 per cent and fully fit and rested up."

Nadal got the expected breakthrough in game four and, despite a Hewitt break early in the second, was rarely troubled.

He laid a backhand past the Australian for the decisive break in the second set and converted the first match point when Hewitt netted his service return.

Nadal levelled their career head-to-head ledger at 4-4 and made it three in a row against the Australian.

Nadal, 22, will reach the number one ranking on Monday while Hewitt last occupied the top spot in June 2003.

Aug 11

Aug 8

Aug 7

Aug 6

LLEYTON Hewitt has been allowed to take his own physiotherapist to Beijing to help him battle his hip soreness. Hewitt, 27, arrived in China last night and went to the athletes' village.

He was accompanied by team tennis coach John Fitzgerald and Melbourne physiotherapist Ivan Gutierrez. The presence of Gutierrez was Hewitt's only concession as he moved into shared accommodation among Australia's 433-member team.

Hewitt is bunking down with Victorian teammate Chris Guccione and they will play doubles. Manager David Drysdale said Hewitt was excited about fraternising with fellow Olympians in the village.

"Lleyton wants to enjoy the whole Olympic experience," Drysdale said.

"He's not staying away from the village, he's sharing with 'Gooch' and he wants to march in the opening ceremony. "He feels strongly about being part of the Australian team."

Drysdale said Gutierrez had been allowed to join the Australian contingent after discussions with the Australian Olympic Committee and Tennis Australia. "Ivan will be there because he knows what it (left hip injury) is and what's required," he said.

"Ivan plans to treat it a little bit differently to what he's done in the past to help Lleyton get through."

Hewitt will fly to New York for the US Open as soon as his Olympic involvement ends. The former world No. 1 yesterday boarded a flight out of Sydney and will bid for his first Olympic medal and his first victory in an Olympic match.

Hewitt lost in the first round in Sydney and missed Athens because of injury. He confirmed his troublesome hip was up to the rigours of the hardcourt test in high heat and humidity.

Hewitt will have more treatment on the joint before his first match on Sunday or Monday. "The hip is as good as what it can be," Drysdale said.

"But he's determined to play. "He's also determined to play the US Open." Hewitt sits at 28th in the world rankings and will slip to about 60th next week after missing two Masters Series tournaments in the US in the past fortnight.

Roger Federer, set to lose the world No. 1 ranking to Rafael Nadal after the Olympics, is the top seed in Beijing. Australians Paul Hanley and Jordan Kerr will contest the doubles, while Sam Stosur, Alicia Molik and Casey Dellacqua will play singles and doubles. Sydney doubles veteran Rennae Stubbs completes the team.

Aug 5

July 31
 

July 4

Olympic officials remain hopeful Lleyton Hewitt can avoid hip surgery to spearhead Australia's tennis campaign at the Beijing Games next month.

Hewitt has been named in an eight-person Australian line-up which on current form could match or better the country's previous best Olympic medal tennis tally.

A Tennis Australia spokesman said Hewitt, who was a fourth round Wimbledon casualty at the hands of world No.1 Roger Federer, needed to seek further medical advice on his troublesome hip problem.

"At this stage I believe he's going to get it checked out," the spokesman said.

"But he hasn't pulled out as yet so we assume he's playing.

"We do know he's very keen to play."

Fifty-six male and female players gained direct entry based on their singles rankings immediately after last month's French Open with 17 of the men's top 20 and 18 of the women's top 20 confirmed for the Beijing tournament which will run from August 10-17.

Hewitt, ranked world No.27, is the only Australian entry to the men's singles, although Chris Guccione (ranked 77) is likely to play as he is first in line should another player withdraw.

Those two will also play doubles, while Paul Hanley joins Jordan Kerr in Australia's other men's doubles team.

Australia has won a medal at each Olympics since the sport was re-introduced in 1988.

The country's only singles medal came in Athens in 2004 through Alicia Molik, who won bronze.

The only tennis gold won by Australia went to Mark Woodforde and Todd Woodbridge in 1996 in Atlanta.

While Hewitt playing in Australia colours is always a medal chance, the country's best hopes lie with the women.

Samantha Stosur and Casey Dellacqua have been included in the women's singles, as has former world No.8 Molik, who received a wildcard entry earlier this week.

Dellacqua will partner Molik in the doubles and Stosur will join Rennae Stubbs in the other women's doubles team.

Stosur has made it through to the semi-finals of women's doubles and the mixed doubles at Wimbledon.

The in-form Dellacqua, currently ranked world No.43, is also through to the Wimbledon women's doubles semis.

Dellacqua, who made the fourth round in singles at the Australian Open and the third round at the French, was a finalist in the women's doubles at Roland Garros.

Australian Olympic squad: Men: Lleyton Hewitt (singles and doubles), Chris Guccione, Paul Hanley, Jordan Kerr (doubles only). Women: Casey Dellacqua, Samantha Stosur, Alicia Molik (singles and doubles), Rennae Stubbs (doubles only).

June 30

Roger Federer ended Lleyton Hewitt's Wimbledon campaign with a straight-sets fourth-round victory over Australia's 2002 champion today. Federer increased his winning streak on grass to 63 with a 7-6 (9-7) 6-2 6-4 win over the 20th-seeded Hewitt in one hour and 49 minutes.

Hewitt paid tribute to Federer's unrivalled ability to absorb pressure after the top seed took time to settle."The first set could have gone either way. I had chances in the tiebreak," said Hewitt."But he served extremely well today. Any quarter chances I got I didn't have for long. He hit the lines very well today and that's why he's the best player in the world, especially on this surface."

The victory also secured the top ranking for at least another week for Federer, regardless of how he fares the rest of the tournament. Federer, who is seeking his sixth consecutive title at the All England Club, now has a 14-7 win-loss record - including 12 straight victories - against Hewitt, the last man to win Wimbledon before the Swiss began his dominance of the event.

After clinching the first-set tiebreak on his fourth set point with an ace, Federer stepped up.He won the fourth game to love for a 4-0 lead in the second set, which he closed out comfortably.

In the third set, Hewitt failed to take some early chances against Federer, who sealed victory on his second of three match points when Hewitt netted a return. It was Federer's serving and ability to win the big points which ultimately proved the difference.

The world No.1 converted his only three break-point opportunities of the match - two in the second set and one in the third - while Hewitt was unable to capitalise on any of his eight break-point chances on Federer's serve.

"He hit the target every time," Hewitt said of Federer's serve."I had break-point chances there late in the second set and early in the third set. I didn't do too much wrong with them.

"When he's serving like that, it's not easy on this surface purely because his serve sets up the point for him to play in his comfort zone."It's very hard to take him out of that zone."

Federer thundered down 21 aces to Hewitt's eight to set up a quarter-final with Croatian Mario Ancic, the last man to beat the Swiss dominator at Wimbledon - some six years ago.

The two players had entered a packed Centre Court to a standing ovation and a small but vocal band of Australian supporters were fully behind Hewitt. They sang several tailor-made chants, squealing each time Federer hit the ball in the warm-up and grunting heartily when their compatriot hit it back.

With Hewitt trailing 3-4 in the opening set - and just hours after the news broke that he and wife Bec, a former Home And Away star - are expecting their second baby in January, the Australian fans launched into the soap's theme song in a bid to lift their compatriot.

But it was to no avail. "I served considerably well when I had to," Federer said. "But I could see Lleyton was struggling. The tiebreaker was key as that put me on the way and I saved break points when I had to."

Hewitt must now decide whether to undergo surgery for a hip injury which has troubled him since March or push through the pain barrier and continue with his plans to contest the Beijing Olympics and US Open in August.

June 30

quote from http://www.lleytonandbechewitt.com

" Bec and Lleyton today announced that they were expecting their second child in January 2009.

In an exclusive interview, available this week, with OK Magazine Australia, Bec, Lleyton and Mia explain their joy of the impending addition to the family.

They chose OK Magazine, recently awarded Magazine of the Year in Australia, after discussions with award winning editor Kim Wilson. Bec and Lleyton particularly approved of the quality of journalism and presentation that the magazine provides.  "

June 27

Lleyton Hewitt lined up a clash with five-time champion Roger Federer in the last 16 of Wimbledon after disposing of Italian Simone Bolelli today.

The Australian flew out of the blocks following the rain delay to claim the opening two sets at a canter, and though the 22-year-old Bolelli showed more aggression in the third set, Hewitt came through in the tie-break to win 6-1 6-3 7-6 (7/2).

Hewitt, the only man other than Federer in the men's draw to have won the tournament, will now take on the Swiss number one in a mouth-watering clash.

The 2002 champion raced into a 3-0 lead and Bolelli, a dentist's son from Bologna, had to save two break points in the fourth game to get on the board. A double-fault allowed Hewitt to go 5-1 up and he easily closed out the set.

Bolelli, whose second serve was a gift to Hewitt's forceful groundstrokes, was broken again in the third game of the second set as a superb whipped forehand winner was greeted with pumping fists from the 27-year-old Australian.

Bolelli had been the conqueror of Britain's Alex Bogdanovic and Chilean ace Fernando Gonzalez in the first two rounds but looked out of his depth, saving another break point in the fifth game before conceding the set in game nine with a risky drop shot which Hewitt easily chased down.

Hewitt looked keen to get it over with as the skies darkened but Bolelli finally found rhythm with his serve to force a tie-break, but the Australian always had the edge and two mini-breaks proved sufficient.

He now faces a 21st meeting with Federer, who is 13-7 up in their head-to-head clashes, having lost to the Swiss star in the semi-finals here three years ago.

Asked how he would treat the match, Hewitt said: Obviously you treat it a bit different to other matches. In the last five years, no-one has been able to get it right - Rafa (Nadal) has got close but no-one else.

"I am going to have to play extremely well. Is that my absolute best? I don't know, it depends how he plays as well."

June 25

June 23

June 20

June 18

Former champion Lleyton Hewitt has been made the 20th seed for Wimbledon with few other surprises as Roger Federer and Ana Ivanovic were given the top seeds.

The All England Club announced seedings that did not stray far from the current world rankings as it prepares for the start of the tournament on Monday.

Hewitt, who moved up three places to 27th in the world following his quarter-final appearance at the warm-up event at Queens, was the main beneficiary of Wimbledon's policy of seeding according not only to rankings but also previous grasscourt credentials.

Federer, who is aiming for his sixth straight Wimbledon title, is followed by world No.2 Rafael Nadal - the losing finalist at SW19 in each of the last two years - and third-ranked Novak Djokovic.

The seedings continue to stick rigidly to the world rankings with Nikolay Davydenko seeded fourth, David Ferrer fifth, Andy Roddick sixth and David Nalbandian seventh.

The first deviation comes as No.8, with world No.9 Richard Gasquet seeded ahead of James Blake. Marcos Baghdatis, ranked 25th in the world, completes the top 10 seeds.

On the women's side, the seedings precisely mirror the world rankings all the way down to No.20, with Ivanovic, Jelena Jankovic, Maria Sharapova, Svetlana Kuznetsova and Elena Dementieva making up the top five.

Serena and Venus Williams, Anna Chakvetadze, Dinara Safina and Daniela Hantuchova complete the top 10.

June 13

June 12

June 11

LLEYTON Hewitt advanced to the third round of the Queen's Club tournament in London with a comfortable victory over Belgian wildcard Xavier Malisse today.

He is the only Australian left in the singles draw after Chris Guccione lost his second-round match.

Hewitt, the No. 11 seed, advanced to the third round with a comfortable 6-3 6-2 win over Belgian wildcard Xavier Malisse.

"It was a pretty good match overall,'' Hewitt said.

"I didn't lose my serve against a good returner out there who works the ball around extremely well.

"It was good to get up an early break, though, in both sets, which was important.''

Hewitt fought off two break points when serving for the match, one with an unreturnable serve and the next with a clever lob over Malisse's head.

The Australian converted his first match point when Malisse netted a backhand.

Hewitt, whose next opponent is French No.7 seed Paul-Henri Mathieu, was pleased with his form going from clay to grass.

"You get more and more comfortable with each match, for sure,'' he said.

"I felt like as soon as I got here, and even with all the changes, I was still hitting the ball well in practice sets, but you've got to go out there and do it in match situations, which is so much different.

"For me, that's been a huge bonus, to get these couple of matches under my belt, and another one tomorrow.'' 


Hewitt and Guccione lost a hard-fought second-round doubles match against sixth-seeded pair Max Mirnyi of Belarus and Briton Jamie Murray, who won 6-7 (6-8) 7-6 (7-5) 10-5.

June 9

All three Australians have made it through to the second round of the ATP event at The Queen's Club in London. Lleyton Hewitt secured a straight-sets win on Monday over British wildcard Joshua Goodall in the first round, while Chris Guccione had a hard-fought victory over Yen-Hsun Lu of Taiwan.

Australian qualifier Joseph Sirianni easily accounted for another British wildcard, Alex Bogdanovic.

Hewitt, seeded 11th, made a flawless start to his bid for a record fifth Queen's title with a comfortable 6-4 6-4 victory over Goodall."It's always a little bit tough first match on grass," Hewitt said of his traditional warm-up for Wimbledon, which starts on June 23.

"You've just got to be careful with your footing a little bit. "It's still different when you get in your first match on a different surface, but that was a good knock because I felt like I served smartly throughout the match, hit my spots well when I needed to.

"On my returns, I felt like I was putting a lot more pressure on him than he was on my service games."

Hewitt's next opponent will be one of two wildcards, Daniel Evans of Britain or Belgium's Xavier Malisse.

Lu made Guccione work for his 6-4 6-7 (2-7) 7-5 win, saving a handful of match points before the 22-year-old from Melbourne finally converted a break point to claim victory. Guccione was happy with his performance.

"It was a tight last game there, it was good to get away with that one," Guccione said."He's a good player ... his game sort of suits mine a little bit, he's got really good returns, pretty good serve, hits the ball very flat and hard to the corner, tries to make you work for it.

"I think he's a great player."

Guccione's next opponent at Queen's is either Edouard Roger-Vasselin of France or 15th-seeded American Mardy Fish.

Sirianni cruised to a 6-3 6-3 victory after taking a commanding 4-1 lead in the first set. The 33-year-old from Melbourne, who is ranked 161, broke No.243 Bogdanovic on the first of two match points to set up a meeting with eighth-seeded Croat Ivo Karlovic, who had a bye into the second round. Sirianni believed he was helped by making it through a tough series of qualifiers. "It's always a tough challenge to get through the first round of a main-draw event and I'm very pleased," he said. "I'd played three tough matches going in there and I was match confident and my fitness is fantastic at the moment."

June 7

June 1

May 31

May 29

May 28

PARIS: Lleyton Hewitt began his French Open campaign with a commanding win over world No.43 Nicolas Mahut of France on Wednesday.

Hewitt, the No.25 seed, showed no sign of the hip injury that threatened to prevent him playing at Roland Garros when he won the first-round match 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 in two hours.

Hewitt made inroads when he converted the second of two break points for a 5-4 lead in the first set. He then handed Mahut two break points with a double fault on his own serve but managed to save both and clinch the set.

The Frenchman averted a scare in the opening game of the second set, saving a break point, but Hewitt replied by converting the second of two break points in the fifth game when his opponent sent a forehand wide.

Hewitt battled to hold serve immediately afterwards but took control in the very next game with a smash to claim his second consecutive break. Serving for the set, the Australian won the next game to love.

Another Hewitt double fault gave Mahut two break points in the fourth, and the Frenchman claimed the first for a 3-1 lead.

Hewitt broke back three games later, however, and then held serve to restore parity at 4-4 before claiming another break and the right to serve for the match.

He converted his first match point with an ace.

It was Hewitt's first competitive match since the Davis Cup win over Thailand in April and his first appearance on the ATP tour since the Miami Masters in late March.

Meanwhile, Australian Peter Luczak made a first-round exit with a straight-sets loss to Jurgen Melzer of Austria 3-6, 2-6, 4-6 in one hour and 53 minutes.

The 114th-ranked Luczak started comfortably but the Austrian, who is ranked 17 places higher, made the decisive break of the opening set in the eighth game.

Melzer made light work of the second set, cruising to 4-0 lead and it was a similar story in the third, with the Austrian claiming the early ascendancy.

Luczak denied him victory with a break in the eighth game, but Melzer won his next service game to love, claiming the match when the Australian hit his return into the net.

AAP

May 27

Rain delay in Paris - Lleytons match for Tuesday cancelled. Re-scheduled for Wednesday 1st match, weather permitting.

match analysis

May 24

May 19

May 15

HEWITT DECISION AT THE END OF THE WEEK

A frustrated Lleyton Hewitt won’t know for a few more days whether or not a hip injury will force him out of the French Open and possibly even Wimbledon.

A worst case scenario on Australia’s top player’s hip injury would be that it kept him out of the entire grass court season.

Hewitt has been consulting daily with the doctor for the Optus Australian Davis Cup team, Dr David Brooks, and also saw a specialist at North Shore Private Hospital today for some more tests.

The former world number one is hopeful of a return to the tour sooner rather than later.

“The hip is starting to feel a little better but I’m yet to fully test it out on court,” Hewitt said this afternoon.

“The specialist did a couple more tests today but the results won’t be back for a few days. Once I get those I can make a decision on the French Open and the grass court season.”

After a strong showing during the 2007 clay court season and last year’s French Open, Hewitt was very much looking forward to returning to the European clay. Instead, the hip injury has sidelined him for the last month.

“He is doing everything in his power to compete in both Grand Slam tournaments,” Hewitt’s manager David Drysdale said.

“Grand Slams are well and truly the highlight of a tennis player’s year, particularly an athlete as competitive as Lleyton. He hasn’t given up on them, but is just frustrated that he can’t be already out there competing and preparing,” he explained.

Once he gets the results of the latest medical tests at the end of the week, Hewitt is expected to make a decision on a date for his return to the tour.

May 7

Lleyton's hip continues to trouble him. therefore he has withdrawn from Hamburg Masters which commences May 12. No word as yet as to when he will return to competition.

May 1

Lleyton has withdrawn from Rome Masters because of his hip injury which hasn't responded to treatment as well as he hoped. He will endeavour to play Hamburg May 12

April 28

Lleyton Hewitt will return to the practice court with coach Tony Roche today and depart for the Rome Masters later this week, his manager, David Drysdale, said the Australian's recuperation from a hip injury had left him "a little bit underdone" for the early stages of the claycourt season.

Hewitt has been limited to occasional gym workouts since leading Australia to a 5-0 Davis Cup win over Thailand in Townsville two weeks ago, and poor weather in Sydney had limited outdoor preparations. After Rome, Hewitt will attempt to defend the 225 rankings points earned through reaching the semi-final of last year's Hamburg Masters, before taking a week off to prepare for the French Open in May.

April 18

Lleyton, a champ of the kids, too
GIVEN all the adverse publicity he has got over the years, it's a great credit to Lleyton Hewitt that we learn not only is he a champion of the underprivileged but goes about it without a hint of fanfare, preferring it goes completely unrecognised in the press. And a perfect example of that happened during the Davis Cup tie in Townsville last weekend when he flew a young cystic fibrosis sufferer from his home in the outer Melbourne suburb of Lysterfield to Queensland to spend the entire weekend with the team, paying for all his expenses including air tickets and five-star accommodation at the team's hotel. "It's something he does a lot of but prefers to keep it quiet," Hewitt's manager David Drysdale said yesterday. And what a weekend it was for 15-year-old Murray Brown and his brother Geoff whom Hewitt also treated to a trip to remember. Not only did the boys have breakfast every morning with Hewitt and sat courtside with him and other team members for every day of the tournament but, at the champ's insistence, Murray also got to toss the coin on the first day. And, for good measure, when it was over he sent him home with a signed hat, playing top, and one of his racquets. Said Drysdale: "You only have to have a look at Lleyton's website to see all the good things for people with special needs and his contribution to the Special Olympics in America. In the same tournament in Townsville a cerebral palsy sufferer was driven a long way just to see Lleyton play and Lleyton spent 15 minutes talking to him."

April 16

April 14

Already resigned to missing the Monte Carlo Masters, which starts on April 21, Hewitt hopes to resume in the Rome Masters from May 5. If all goes to plan, he would then contest the Hamburg Masters, French Open, Queen's Club in London, Wimbledon, Toronto Masters, Cincinnati Masters, the Olympics and US Open before the September 19-21 World Group playoff.

"At this stage (I'm) probably planning on starting in Rome, as long as I can get my body right," Hewitt said yesterday. "At the moment, I'm not really focused on the tournaments coming up.

"It's more getting my body right and hopefully being able to get some hitting time on clay before I've got to play the tournaments over there." Ranked 21st in the world, Hewitt will be under pressure to stay in the top 25 unless he performs strongly in Rome, Hamburg and Paris.

He has dropped the Poertschach event in Austria, where he was a semi-finalist last year, from his schedule. "I actually feel like the last couple of years have been a couple of my best years on clay," Hewitt said.

"You keep learning, no matter how many times you go around. I think clay when you first come on - being an Australian, we haven't really grown up on it - it's a totally different style of play. "Last year in Hamburg, I can't play much better than that on a tennis court, I don't think, no matter what surface it's on. "I probably should have beaten Rafael Nadal in the semis there in Hamburg, and then the French it's taken Nadal the last two years to beat me. "So if I keep putting myself in a position, maybe I'll get on the other side of the draw as him and play him a little bit later in the tournament."

April 13

April 12

A straight-sets victory in today's doubles rubber has given Australia an unbeatable lead over Thailand in the Davis Cup tie in Townsville.

Lleyton Hewitt and Paul Hanley outclassed Weerapat Doakmaiklee and Kirati Siributwong 6-3 6-1 6-0 to put Australia 3-0 up in the Asia–Oceania group second-round tie.

Australia can now look forward to a play-off in September for the right to re-enter the competition's elite 16-nation World Group in 2009.

The draw for the play-offs will be conducted early next week and the most desirable result for Australia would be a home tie against either Peru, the Netherlands, Israel, Brazil, Chile or Colombia.

The worst-case scenario would be a home fixture against Roger Federer's Switzerland, although an away tie against India or Andy Murray's Great Britain aren't exactly appealing either.

It could have been far worse, though.

Currently ranked 10th in the world, Australia are guaranteed a seeding – possibly No.1 – for the play-offs, meaning John Fitzgerald's team will at least be spared another showdown with Serbia.

It was the Novak Djokovic-inspired Serbs who sent 28-times champions Australia packing from the World Group for only the second time with a 4-1 humbling in Belgrade last September.

Australia entered day two against Thailand with a 2-0 advantage following singles wins on Friday for Hewitt over Siributwong, and Chris Guccione over Danai Udomchoke, and were keen to make swift work of the doubles.

And they were never troubled, dropping just four games, with Hewitt saying it was a relief to be a step closer to a return to the World Group.

"These are never easy matches. Obviously we were the favourites coming into the tie but you still have to go out there and get the job done," Hewitt said.

"And now it's a matter of winning the World Group play-off in September."

April 11

Australia lead Thailand 2-0

April 10

Davis Cup draw

April 4

March 29

Hewitt hip injury a worry for Davis Cup

Lleyton Hewitt has thrown a scare into the Australian Davis Cup camp, revealing he's suffering a hip injury which contributed to his first match exit from the Miami Masters.

Hewitt lost 6-3 7-6 (7-4) to Argentina's Jose Acasuso on Saturday and has only 12 days to recover from his hip problem before the Davis Cup Asia-Oceania zone second round tie against Thailand in Townsville.

"I just couldn't quite move properly," said Hewitt, who picked up the problem last week in Indian Wells.

"I went out there, and I tried and just couldn't quite compete the way wanted to. I suffered against it (Mardy) Fish last week, and I've been battling it ever since.

"I tried to do everything to get in shape to be ready today, but it wasn't quite there."

Hewitt's spring US adventure ended on a low note, with a 3-3 record from the Las Vegas, California and Florida tournaments.

While insisting that he didn't know exactly what the hip injury problem was, Hewitt knows he needs to get it solved.

"I was just trying to get as much treatment as possible in the last couple of days. I didn't hit yesterday to try to be right for today, but that's how it goes," he said.

"I didn't feel my footwork was great today, and that's what lost me the match, I think."

The former No.1's last multiple-title season was in 2004, since winning just one title per year. His lone 2007 trophy was in June at Queen's club in June on grass.

March 18

Hewitt was knocked out by American Mardy Fish, who beat the Australian for the first time 7-5 3-6 7-6 (7-4).

"It was close the whole way," Hewitt said. "He served well. I had a few slight chances in the third set and I wasn't really under a lot of pressure on my serve in the third set. "He played a great serving tiebreak to finish it off."

He will play Miami next week.

DAVIS CUP - Lleyton Hewitt will lead the Australian Davis Cup squad against Thailand in next month's tie in Townsville, Tennis Australia said Wednesday. Peter Luczak, at a career high of world number 69, has been recalled to the team which will play the Asia/Oceania Zone Group One second round tie on April 11 to 13.

The inclusion of 28-year-old Luczak edges out Alun Jones who was named in the team which last month beat Taiwan. Australia's Davis Cup Captain John Fitzgerald says it is still not guaranteed that Hewitt will play in the opening match.

"It depends on the week leading up, and obviously there's a fair chance he'd [Lleyton] play on the opening day, and he'd play their number two player on the opening day," he said. "Because that's the way the draw pans out but depending on the form of the other guys, we'll make a choice when we're actually there in the week leading up."

Along with world number 24 Hewitt, the team will include Chris Guccione (70) and doubles specialist Paul Hanley. The winner of the Townsville round will earn a berth in the World Group play-offs in September.

March 17

Lleyton defeated Mikhail Youzhny  7-5 6-1 in the 3rd rd.

Lleyton was a bit shakey, going down 4-2 in the first set against Mikhail Youzhny before finding his range. Hewitt, the world No.24 and back-to-back winner in 2002 and 2003, levelled the match and broke the Russian world No.13 again in the 11th game before serving out the set.Youzhny imploded in the second, eventually finishing with 44 unforced errors to hand the former world No.1 a 7-5 6-1 victory.

March 16

Contrary to predictions, Lleyton had an impressive second rd victory against Sam Querrey in his 1st match at this year's Indian Wells tournament, 6-4 6-3. He was in fine form to break his opponent to love in the 9th game and went on to serve out the set 6-4. He won the second set after breaking Querrey twice to lead 3-0. Querrey rallied to regain a break however Lleyton was always in front and won the 2nd set 6-3. He will now meet Youzny, from Russia, on Tuesday, US time.

March 15

Something has to give when streaking Sam Querrey takes on veteran Lleyton Hewitt in the second round of the Pacific Life Open on Sunday. Querrey will try to blow his opponent away with huge serves and forehands, while Hewitt will merely attempt to keep too many balls in play.

Although Sam Querrey has been on the pro tour for two years now and Lleyton Hewitt has been around for a decade, this second-round battle in Indian Wells will be the first time the two players have ever squared off head-to-head. Will Querrey’s power be too much for the Aussie to contend with, or will Hewitt frustrate the up-and-coming American by getting ball after ball back in the court?

If recent form is any indication, Hewitt could have some serious trouble in this match even though he is seeded 24th, whereas Querrey is unseeded. Other than his epic win over Baghdatis in Australia that ended after 4:30 in the morning, Hewitt has really struggled this season. In Rotterdam he got caught looking ahead to a potential second-round clash with Rafael Nadal and lost to unheralded Andreas Seppi in a third-set tiebreaker. Most recently in Las Vegas, Hewitt took out slumping Marat Safin in round one before being stunned by Julien Benneteau.

The 20-year-old Querrey, on the other hand, is playing the best tennis of his life. He is coming off his first-ever ATP title, which he captured last week at the Tennis Channel Open in Las Vegas, where Hewitt was the No. 2 seed. Querrey had to save a match point in the first round against Sebastien Grosjean, but it quickly became a lot easier. He scored impressive wins over Nicolas Kiefer, Benneteau, and Guillermo Canas before ending the run of fellow youngster Kevin Anderson in the final. Querrey surged up to No. 48 in the world rankings—just one spot away from his career-high—and he appears to be keeping up that momentum at the Pacific Life Open. He dispatched Luis Horna 7-6(5), 6-3 in the first round, firing 12 aces in the process.

At 6’5’’ and owner of a massive serve and forehand, Querrey will present significant problems for his opponent. Hewitt prefers to play against guys who cannot overpower him physically, as he makes a living off requiring his adversaries stay on the court much longer than they would like. Players who have big weapons and can end points early like Querrey have an easier time of it with Hewitt. Nonetheless, it will be far from easy for the American. Querrey must serve huge, as he usually does, and most importantly he has to pay smart tennis. If he buckles under the pressure of having to hit so many balls to win points and starts going for ill-advised winners before the opportunities are really there, Hewitt could seize the edge in this showdown.

Querrey is playing with so much confidence right now that it is hard to bet against him. This match has all the makings of a grueling three-set thriller and those are the kinds of matches that Hewitt normally pulls out, but at this point in time Querrey just has too many weapons.

March 6

Lleyton Hewitt's luck ran out in Las Vegas on Wednesday, as the second-seeded Australian crashed out of the 436,000-dollar ATP tournament here at the hands of France's Julien Benneteau.

Benneteau shocked the defending champion 6-3, 7-5 to book a quarter-final berth against American Sam Querrey.

Hewitt, 27, has dominated here in recent years. He won the title in 2000 and 2003 as well as last year, and had reached the final in five of his six appearances, including the past two years.

But Benneteau brought that run of success to a screeching halt. He broke Hewitt five times to hand him just his fourth defeat in his last 31 matches here.

Hewitt, ranked 24th in the world, had cruised to a 6-1, 6-1 victory over erratic Russian Marat Safin in the first round.

However, his serve let him down against Benneteau, who is in search of his first career ATP singles title and improved to 6-4 this season.

Benneteau broke Hewitt twice en route to taking the first set and broke him twice again to lead 5-3 in the second.

Hewitt, showing a flash of the form that has earned him 26 career titles, held serve then regained a break as Benneteau double-faulted to even the second set at 5-5.

Benneteau, however, broke back and served out the match in 1hr 45min.

Lleyton will play Indian Wells March 13

March 4

Defending champion and second seed Lleyton Hewitt of Australia crushed Russian Marat Safin 6-2 6-1 in the Las Vegas Open first round on Monday.

Hewitt converted four of six break points and won 83 per cent of his first serve points to clinch victory in 58 minutes.

“I knew I was going to have to be on my game from the start,” Hewitt told reporters. “I was able to get up that early break in both sets, which is important.”

Safin double-faulted three times and made just 40 per cent of his first serve points.

Hewitt became only the second man, after American Andre Agassi, to win the Las Vegas title three times with a straight-sets victory over Austrian Juergen Melzer in last year’s final.

February 20

Lleyton Hewitt's third European indoor tournament in nearly three-and-a-half years has lasted one round and three hours.

The former number one, whose history of ankle injuries has disrupted his tennis travel plans in recent seasons, missed on a match point as he lost to Italian Andreas Seppi 3-6, 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7/4) at the Rotterdam Open first round overnight.

Hewitt last played indoors in Europe a year ago in Marseille, winning a round. Before that he last appeared under a roof on the continent at Paris in November, 2004.

"This is my only indoor event, so it's not like I need indoor matches. I didn't come here expecting a whole heap," said Hewitt, who is scheduled to play in just over a week outdoors in Las Vegas, where he will defend the last title he won.

The Australian's record in tie-breakers has come under scrutiny, with Hewitt now having lost seven of his last eight deciders.Seppi turned the tide in his win thanks to top tie-break play.

"I have the same mindset every year - to win," said former Wimbledon and US Open champion Hewitt. "I would have liked to have gotten a few rounds here, but I have to forget about it now.

"When you're at your peak, you game's on auto-pilot. You manage to get over the line in matches like this. "When you haven't had a lot of tight matches, you hang back waiting for things to happen."

Hewitt, who won against Marcos Baghdatis at the Australian Open in a match which ended at a record 4:40 am in Melbourne, said he was still pleased with his form at his home major where he reached the fourth round.

"I played well at the Open. I absolutely think I can get back to the top five. You just need a bit of luck, you need a break," he said."But once you get a quarter-final or semi-final at a slam, the floodgates open."

Feb 11

Lleyton will play Rotterdam Feb 18

Feb 9

February 8

Day 1 Davis Cup v Chinese Taipei
R1 - Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) d Ti Chen (TPE)  6-4 6-0 6-3
R2 - Chris Guccione (AUS) d Yen-Hsun Lu (TPE) 7-6(5) 6-4 7-6(9)

February 7

February 5

A REFRESHED Lleyton Hewitt hit the Taiwanese courts for the first time on Monday as he seeks to lead Australia out of the wilderness in this weekend's Davis Cup tie against Taiwan.

While Australia is favoured to defeat Taiwan, it is solely because of Hewitt, the world No.22.

Although he was written off by some critics after failing to reach the semi-finals of an event during the Australian summer, a closer examination of Hewitt's results suggests he is not far from reaching peak form.

After two easy wins in Adelaide, he was thumped by Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, hardly a disgrace, given the Frenchman's romp to the final of the Australian Open in Melbourne.

He was unable to break Guccione, who was at the peak of his serving game, losing in two tiebreak sets in Sydney, then ran into Australian Open winner Novak Djokovic in the fourth round in Melbourne. He should have won the first set despite his hopes being compromised by an all-night affair against Marcos Baghdatis a round earlier.

But the Taiwan side, led by world No.108 Yen-Hsun Lu, stacks up competitively against the rest of the Australian side, particularly on hard-courts, the surface for the tie beginning on Friday.

Lu, 24, enters the tie in reasonable form.

He followed a five-set loss in the first round of the Australian Open with a secondary-circuit tournament win in Waikoloa, Hawaii, where he thrashed veteran American Vince Spadea in the final.

He also boasts a win over Guccione, having toppled the Australian 7-6 6-3 in the first round of a challenger event in Memphis last year.

Yeu-Tzuoo (Jimmy) Wang, a former Australian Open and US Open junior finalist, has not played a tournament this year but pushed Sydney International winner Dmitry Tursunov to three sets in the quarter-finals of a tour event in Bangkok in September.

Guccione posted an early blow for the Australians in the quarter-finals of a challenger event in Guangzhou, China last week by defeating Taiwan's No.3 Ti Chen in three sets.

However the world No.86 was unable to justify his top seeding for the event by bowing out in the semi-finals.

February 4

Australian Davis Cup captain John Fitzgerald says his team must respect its opposition as it attempts to climb out of the Davis Cup wilderness.

Australia has travelled to Taiwan for this weekend's crucial first-round meeting of the Asia-Oceania group tie.

The two teams square off on Friday at Yang Ming Tennis Court in Khaosiung with the winner keeping alive its chances of returning to the World Group.

"We have respect for the Chinese Taipei players," Fitzgerald told media in Khaosiung.

"We have watched them in Australia, we have watched them the last three or four years, they are good players. We have had to bring our best team here to compete."

Australia's No.1 player Lleyton Hewitt said he was feeling fit after being bundled out of January's Australian Open by eventual champion Novak Djokovic.

"I know all of our team will be ready to go come Friday," Hewitt said.

He will look to boost an already imposing Davis Cup record that includes the most singles wins (30) in Australian history.

"It's good to be here, it's always good to be playing for your country," Hewitt added.

"We have such a rich tradition in Davis Cup so for us we're proud to be playing."

Compatriot, big-serving world No.86 Chris Guccione, is keen to build on a busy summer.

"I've played a lot of matches and I'm feeling pretty good at the moment with the way I'm hitting the ball," Guccione said.

Taiwan is likely to be headed up by world No.108 Yen-Hsun Lu who impressed in this year's Hopman Cup and recently won a Challenger event in Hawaii.

He has been ranked as high as 80 and beat Guccione in Memphis early in 2007.

The other singles berth is expected to go to Yeu-Tzuoo Wang, currently 147 in the world

January 23

Optus Australian Davis Cup