Hewitt hungry to mentor next generation

Lleyton Hewitt is eager to mentor the new generation of Australian tennis stars and help them follow in his footsteps by becoming Grand Slam champions.

Hewitt, 34, who will retire after the Australian Open in January, wants to pass on the benefits of his vast experience to Bernard Tomic, Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis.

Australia is home to some of the greats of men's tennis, such as Roy Emerson, Rod Laver, John Newcombe and Ken Rosewall, not to mention Grand Slam winners like Pat Cash and Patrick Rafter.

However, the country has not produced a single Grand Slam finalist since Hewitt, who won the 2001 US Open and Wimbledon in 2002.

He thinks the new generation can at last stop the rot.

"The biggest thing about the three young guys we have now is they all handle pressure and expectation differently but they all thrive on getting out there on the big courts and playing well under pressure," Hewitt said on Thursday.

"Since me, we've really struggled with guys who can go out there and handle that - and these three guys can."

Tomic is the oldest of the trio at 22 and Hewitt said he had a solid relationship with the world No 26.

"I like all three guys. I think the probably the last three years I've worked pretty hard with Bernie and I think I've built up a good bond there where he certainly trusts me," said Hewitt.

"Just with small things, whether it's about his schedule or preparation. I feel a lot better that he's comfortable coming to me and talking about certain stuff now."

Hewitt thinks it's good for Tomic to have Kyrgios and Kokkinakis racing up behind him.

"With the two younger kids coming through, I think that's been good for Bernie. For a while there, he was just seen as my successor," said Hewitt.

"He was the only one, and that was weighing pretty heavily on him.

"So now there's two other young guys and they all get along well. That's great for Australian tennis, because if you've got three guys that could possibly be pushing for Grand Slams in the years to come, if they all get along well it's perfect."

Kyrgios, 20, has found himself in hot water at Wimbledon over his on-court verbal volleys, but the world No 29 insists he was firing the abuse at himself rather than the officials.

"As much as Nick is different, he does things his way but he is still able to get the result most of the time," said Hewitt.

Nineteen-year-old Kokkinakis, who jumped at the offer to partner with Hewitt in the doubles at Wimbledon, said he had grown used to Kyrgios' unorthodox manner.

"It's always a circus when Nick hits the court. I like watching it because I don't know what's going to happen next," the world No 72 said.

(China Daily 07/04/2015 page11)