The fact that he was seeded third instead of second is ludicrous. But watching him during the first week, seeing the determination he has put into his three wins and taking heed of the way he has toughened up to generate more power, makes me believe that he has a great chance of overcoming any obstacle.
Players talk about setting new targets of excellence after reaching what they initially believed to be the summit of the game. Few actually achieve such an aim.
Hewitt found himself in a tough situation. He had reigned as world No 1 for 75 weeks, the longest stretch at the top since Pete Sampras 5½ years before. In that time he won Wimbledon and two Masters Cups.
Then, in 2003, he allowed his world ranking to drop because he wanted to dedicate himself to winning the Davis Cup for Australia. But he soon learnt the cost. By the time he rededicated himself to reclaiming top spot, Federer had taken control.Standards had risen, the game had evolved and Hewitt had a lesson to learn. Losing so emphatically to Federer in last year’s US Open final and the Masters Cup in Houston convinced him that something extra had to be done to make himself competitive against the very best.
Being defeated six matches in a row by a player you previously had dominated is reason enough to take drastic measures. True, that run did extend to seven in the final of the Masters Series event at Indian Wells in March, but that result should not be taken too seriously. Hewitt played with an injured toe that required surgery and kept him off court for a couple of months until he ruled himself out of the French Open by falling down stairs and damaging some ribs.
Advertisement
Two results far more relevant to Hewitt were the semi-final wins over Federer for Marat Safin in the Australian Open and then for Rafael Nadal at the French. They underlined two important facts. Firstly, that Federer is far more susceptible before getting to a final. But, more importantly, an all-out physical onslaught is the only way to unhinge the most accomplished player in the world.
Full marks for the way he has worked under coach Roger Rasheed. There was never any doubting Hewitt’s durability or pace, but now he has added greater strength to the equation and it could reap dividends. He has the power to emulate the sort of attack mounted by Safin in Melbourne, Nadal in Paris and, to a extent, Andy Roddick in last year’s Wimbledon final.
Allowing Federer to dictate is a guaranteed recipe for failure. Preventing him from dominating is probably the hardest task in the game. Hewitt knows he must come flying out of the blocks and never allow the world No 1 to settle. He must go for the lines, force Federer into the corners, return like a demon and serve harder than he has ever done in his life. Noting the fact he has so far delivered 48 aces from three matches, it seems that extra muscle has translated into a more forceful delivery.
He will fight, scrap and chase and get into the face of his opponents. If fist-pumps and shouts unsettle the guy on the other side of the net, then all well and good.
There are other difficult hurdles to overcome. Most people would say tomorrow’s opponent, Taylor Dent, should not cause too many problems, but the Californian son of an Australian beat Hewitt in the quarter-finals of his hometown tournament in Adelaide six months ago and took him to five sets in their Wimbledon meeting four years ago. If Hewitt wins, then it will be either Mario Ancic or Feliciano Lopez, both of whom are well equipped to do damage.
Advertisement
But if Hewitt plays Federer before the final, it will be a travesty that can be laid at the door of the All England Club. I am appalled by the decision to seed Roddick at No 2, rather than my fellow Australian.
How can the fact that Hewitt was the last man to win this title before Federer be ignored? They are the best grass-court players and should contest the final. The fact one of them will be absent makes the seeding procedure here a mockery.