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Age and injuries fail to douse fire in Hewitt
(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-01-15 11:29

SYDNEY - The fire raging inside Lleyton Hewitt shows no signs of being extinguished even though it does not burn quite as fiercely as it once did.


Lleyton Hewitt of Australia serves to Roger Federer of Switzerland during their match at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London in this June 30, 2008 file photo. The fire raging inside of Lleyton Hewitt may not burn quite as fiercely as it once did but there are still no signs of it ever being extinguished. The former world number one has not won a grand slam title since 2002 and has steadily slipped down the rankings as injuries and the responsibilities of fatherhood combine to keep him away the courts.[Agencies] 

The former world number one has not won a grand slam title since 2002 and has steadily slipped down the rankings as injuries and the responsibilities of fatherhood combine to keep him away from the courts.

The feisty Australian has slumped to 74th in the world after missing the second half of last year because of a hip problem and has not won a tournament since 2007.

He has hardly rated a mention in the leadup to this year's Australian Open and bookmakers have listed him at the once-unimaginable odds of 100-1.

Hewitt knows his chances of winning so soon after making his comeback are slim but he has not given up hope.

"You can't expect miracles when you haven't played for nearly four and a half, five months on the tour," he said.

"It's not easy to come out in match situations and just pick it up straightaway. It doesn't matter how good you are.

"It's a matter of getting that confidence but the more matches I play, the better."

Hewitt's on-court antics and win-at-any-cost approach has ruffled his opponents over the years but he still makes no apology.

His philosophy has brought him rich success, including the 2001 U.S. Open title and Wimbledon the following year, but winning the Australian Open has always been his life's ambition.

Hewitt became hooked on tennis when his parents took him to Melbourne to see Pat Cash in the 1988 final and he emulated his childhood hero in 2005, losing the showpiece match to Marat Safin.

His agonising miss in 2005 was easily his best performance at his home grand slam and that was the only time he made it past the fourth round in 12 attempts.

At 27 and with a body starting to show signs of wear and tear after years of dashing round the court, time is fast running out for Hewitt.

Yet he still commands respect from the game's greatest players.

"I always like watching Lleyton play," Roger Federer said.

"It's not easy for him to come back from this type of injury but he is the type of guy who can make it back way up in the rankings again. I really hope so."

(Editing by Pritha Sarkar)