Medibank International Sydney Tennis - Australian Open Series

Olympic Park Tennis Centre 11-17 Jan 2009

Hewitt secures fighting win

Hewitt secures fighting win

AAP Tuesday 13 January 2009 Comments

Four-time champion Lleyton Hewitt has scrapped his way into the second round of the Medibank International Sydney with a tough three-set victory over unheralded Frenchman Julien Benneteau today.

Playing in plus-40 degree temperatures in Ken Rosewall Arena, Hewitt’s game never really matched the scorching heat as he battled to a fighting 5-7 6-2 6-4 win over of the world No.48.

Hewitt will meet Janko Tipsarevic on Wednesday for a place in the quarterfinals for the seventh time in a row in Sydney after the Serb ousted American eighth seed Mardy Fish 6-4 3-6 6-4.

Australia’s former world No.1 will need to step it up against Tipsarevic, a talented shotmaker who stretched Roger Federer over five sets at last year’s Australian Open.

Contesting his first ATP match since undergoing hip surgery last August, Hewitt looked a shadow of the player who once reeled off 20 straight wins at Sydney Olympic Park.

He struggled from the outset, double-faulting to gift Benneteau a service break and a 3-1 lead in the opening set.

He broke back three games later with a lovely forehand pass only to concede the set with successive forehand errors while serving at 5-6.

The dogged baseliner rebounded quickly to break the Frenchman to love in the opening game of the second set.

Hewitt grabbed a double break for a 4-1 advantage before levelling the match at a set apiece with another crisp forehand crosscourt pass.

But even after breaking Benneteau in the first game of the deciding set and then holding for 2-0, Hewitt continued to make hard work of it.

He dropped serve with a netted backhand to hand the Frenchman a lifeline and then had to fend off further break points in the eighth game.

Hewitt hung tough, though, and eventually prevailed after two hours and five minutes.

In other results, Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu was too strong for Andreas Seppi 6-2 2-6 6-3.

Chris Guccione, who reached the final of the Medibank International last year, will play Czech Tomas Berdych next on Ken Rosewall Arena.

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  • Pairs
    GO Hewitt you bloody good thing!

    Was looking grim in the first set but you did it, GO AUSSIE!
  • fcrs
    Goo Tipsaa !!!
  • dean
    C,mon hewee more agression please, your to old to stay out there all day mate,I love ya but please listen to rochey and come in more,your a great volleyer champ
  • emma
    that's a sweet picture of lleyton. :)
  • Suze
    I also was there - and i feel he played a great game.
    It took him a while to warm up to the Frenchman's style, but once he had it - he dominated.
    There were a few touchy, tense moments, but i feel Lleyton played a well crafted game and won convincingly!
    Considering he has come back from hip surgery only months ago - i couldn't have been happier with his display of 'old Lleyton' as you call it, and his fight.

    GO LLEYTON!!!!
  • Kathy
    Congrats to Lleyton.

    I was there and I thought it was a well fought match with signs of the old Lleyton.

    Only drawback was sitting beside a LLeyton hater.

    Good luck for the next round. I am confident i will get to see him play in the quarters on Thursday
  • Andrew
    Go Lleyton, love your fighting aussie spirit

    Next up Tipsarevic, you got him Hewitt!
  • Sandy
    THATS MY BOY!!! C'MON
  • GO LLEYTON, FINALLY SO 2ND ROUND U SHOULD BE ABLE TO BEAT TIPSARVIC UVE GOT A 2-1 RECORD AGAINST HIM AND WELL DONE CHRIS GUCCIONE BEATING TOMAS BERDYCH 6-3 6-4 GO AUSSIES
  • Dr Paul
    Wonderful effort...if he makes the top 20 this year it will be a feat to rival his tenure as the youngest number one
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