It was the nail-biter of all nail-biters but no one could have imagined Aussie lionheart Lleyton would surrender two match points before losing to arch rival David Nalbandian in the Australian Open’s first round.

Photo: AFP.

After an epic fight lasting 4hrs 48mins at Melbourne Park last night, Hewitt finally succumbed to the powerful Argentine, who confessed he played “amazing” tennis during the five-set corker.

Hewitt’s failure to secure the win after two match points shows he is not 100 per cent confident in his form.

It was a sad night for the Aussie camp, effectively wiping out hopefuls in the men’s singles draw, although lucky wildcard entrant Bernard Tomic is the only survivor.

Hewitt is all emotion on the court, but he’s better at controlling his anger, energy and frustration after years of fighting on the tennis circuit.

Photo: AFP.

The classic match was nothing but the battle of two strong wills who refused to give up, despite their physical exhaustion.  Nalbandian’s groundstrokes were generally more potent than Hewitt’s, whose survival is largely a product of the adrenaline he creates after the big points and stirring moments.

After 15 Australian Open campaigns,  Hewitt, 29, must be wondering if he will ever clinch the Melbourne Park title and also, how he’ll return to the top 10. Hewitt says he can improve but he needs more match conditioning before tackling the big tournaments and becoming a key finalist.

Photo: AFP.

Hewitt’s loss has put a “dampener” on the Aussie Open, as hopes are now pinned on Sam Stosur, who is in on fire after wiping out Lauren Davis in the first round.

Tennis officials will be hoping Stosur will fuel Aussie support, as local players fail to impress in their home grand slam event.

Photo: AFP.

With the class of the world’s best players gracing the court at Rod Laver Arena, somewhere there must be emerging Aussie star with the character and burning desire to match the sport’s superstars.

Australian tennis badly needs a sporting freak, like Olympic swimmer Ian Thorpe, to rejuvenate our country’s proud history in tennis. It’s the sport’s job to identify this talent (which exists) and give kids a chance to shine. It would be disappointing to see tennis becoming anything less than a mainstream, elite sport in our country.

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    • Futureproof says:

      12:24pm | 19/01/11

      The man is a chump.  His opponent can be number 2,000,000 in the world and he will still lose after a five set marathon.  How does the chump get into tournaments?  Aren’t you suppose to win a few to score a gurnsey?

    • A Reltih says:

      01:06pm | 19/01/11

      Wimbledon, US Open, 80 weeks at number 1, worlds youngest ever winner of an ATP pro tour event.  Yeah a chump.

      Might be a foul-mouthed killer and too serious and driven for small time losers like you and all the other haters, but no chump.

    • Peter EICENS says:

      01:13pm | 19/01/11

      Wild card?  more the the joker card for HEWIT, It used to be a thrill to watch any Australian do well at any sport…..... a very long time ago. To win “FOR” Australia now,  in a world of overpaid sports persons, this thrill is diminished especially when the sports person has no charisma, ie HEWITT ,  Sarcastically “oh how happy when the lack lustre,excuse blaming HEWITT wins.  Perhaps if his ego was more the size of his ability he’d do better.  Best of luck in the retirement pasture, not too many people want a pair of sneakers branded “HEWITT” perhaps an all day sucker would be more appropriate.  Sport persons like CASH or other sports ie Valentino ROSSI, have all the skills,  and further, have teh grace to admit defeat.  People like ROSSI are aslo consistent in winning, not like HEWITT, if he was to win the under 7’s wheelabarrow back open then it’s Whoo hoo he’s found form again.  Goodbye, go and try to market that stooopid salute.  Yes I stayed up to watch him loose, went to bed with a smile on my dial.

    • A Reltih says:

      01:24pm | 19/01/11

      Nurse…?!  Nurse…?!  We need the medication here.. now… QUICKLY!

    • fairsfair says:

      01:14pm | 19/01/11

      He seems to have become the Ana Kornicova of men’s tennis… except he is not good looking and he doesn’t even win doubles.

      I can’t believe he is only 29. It feels like he was 29 in 2001 when he won the US Open. Tall poppy and all that - our judgement of him is harsh - but come on! - he hasn’t performed well in years.

    • Jo Matasic says:

      01:40pm | 19/01/11

      He WAS great! Unfortunately, his time has passed. The only one who can’t seem to see that now is Leighton. Although, you have to love the guy for consistently trying! I say we savor his past, recognize his youthful talent but stop expecting him to re-create what is clearly over. If he can come-back, he would surely be the come-back king, but lets not think that a failure to come-back, is a failure across the board. He was successful and did us proud! Lets leave it at that.

    • Come on says:

      01:44pm | 19/01/11

      Can watch the open in comfort now knowing this prat is gone

    • Pleasure O'Reilly says:

      01:48pm | 19/01/11

      Whoops! I was always a little uneasy when my partner called Lllleyton a ‘dud’, tending to agree wholeheartedly now…..Peter E your assessment is hilarious ...and true!

    • Graham S says:

      02:38pm | 19/01/11

      And good riddance. Fortunately we will now be spared the cameras panning over to his sponging parents and his CUB of a wife every second point of any set during his matches. No other professional tennis player takes his mom n dad to work every day, certainly not champions like Nadel & Federer

    • Jasmine says:

      04:49pm | 19/01/11

      Hewitt is a TOOL! He is only good for a laugh now. I could never understand how he managed to marry Bec Cartwright. She’s way too pretty for him, his very unattractive, ugly personality and now plays exactly how he looks.

      It’s a shame his still on T.V.

    • Bugger it says:

      08:28pm | 19/01/11

      He is going to guest commentate ,now were stuffed!

    • Robert Smissen, rural SA, God's own country says:

      08:54pm | 20/01/11

      Really Jasmine, he speaks so well of you

    • MudCrab says:

      05:26pm | 19/01/11

      Sorry, but when you guys look at the first photo attached to this article do you want to say something like…

      “Hi Mister Hewitt! How was your tennis game!”
      “Well Handi it wasn’t that good”

      If he completely bums out in proffessional tennis he can always get a job in puppet theater… smile

    • stephen says:

      06:12pm | 19/01/11

      He’s actually about 6 foot tall.
      Wouldn’t think so, would you ?

      (I was really, once, going to nick-name him ‘runt’, but then after finding that out, I suddenly thought of another name…..

    • Paul _SA says:

      06:17pm | 19/01/11

      Whenever Hewitt plays I’m always wishing the other guy beats him! It doesn’t matter who he plays.  But when the other guy beats him I’m cheering!

      Why do I dislike him so? Call me intolerant… but something about him makes him come across like an unpleasant, arrogant and incredibly self-obsessed person. There’s a touch of the cashed up bogan about him and I can imagine he probably listens to ‘Copperhead Road’ to psyche himself before games.

      Come to think of it, he reminds me of some particularly unpleasant neighbours who used to live next door.

    • Kate says:

      11:31pm | 19/01/11

      I feel the same way, especially after seeing The Chaser’s segment where they reviewed Hewitt’s DVD. The guy is just so arrogant - there’s a section where they’re interviewing Andrew McLeod, who is trying to talk about how it feels to run out onto a packed ground for a Grand Final, and Hewitt interrupts with “and Lleyton Hewitt in the stands…”. UGH.

    • HarlequinBeetle says:

      07:11am | 21/01/11

      Yep! Spot on…...Sadly…
      Hopefully he will grow up, spend less time on the social butterfly scene, and become a devoted husband and father.  I pray !!!

    • Wendy Wu Vaughan says:

      06:25pm | 19/01/11

      Lleyton is still Australia’s Number one player and he went first round.

    • Razor says:

      06:32pm | 19/01/11

      Thank goodness he lost.  Hopefully he’ll get the message soon.

    • billsydney says:

      08:23pm | 19/01/11

      Hewitt will never get the message Razor. He is too bloody selfish and greedy. He was good a long time ago but, I never ever thought of him as a true blue Aussie - just not a likeable chappie

    • stevie says:

      08:38pm | 19/01/11

      COME ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wanker - enough said.

    • Arnold Layne says:

      08:29am | 20/01/11

      That’s ok, our next big thing (in male tennis at least) is bound to be more likeable.  Oh hang on a sec, it’s Bernard Tomic.

    • Flutz says:

      02:32pm | 20/01/11

      Don’t worry Tomic will be gone soon too - if he gets through round 2, he will fall to Rafa in round 3.

      But I have to say, Lleyton is more likeable than Tomic.  At least Lleyton had some succes before he turned into a giant tool - Tomic came onto the circuit as “a tool I prepared earlier”

    • Rossco says:

      02:02pm | 20/01/11

      Our tennis stocks are depleted male and female, time to take a good look at Tennis Australia and mentoring. Leyton? you dont need to be Einstein to see his body has had it, his ego is the only thing driving him. Time to hang up the racket young feller, ring Bec to come pick you up in the merc and retire. You are already disliked by most of the non tennis population. Have a month off with mum and dad, they at least still think you are a potential winner, it’s called blind love.

    • Wilson says:

      04:01pm | 20/01/11

      I don’t believe this drivel.

      I can fully understand how yes, he looks arrogant, how he seems like a cashed up bogan etc…

      BUT - he has served Australia well at Davis Cup matches, won 2 slams (yes, I know a long time ago), was world number 1 and even though he’s not the best around these days, still tries his darnest.

      He will probably never win another slam, but you can’t fault the guy for trying.

      Despite the popular myth, he is well-liked and well respected by other players for being a solid professional and a genuine fighter. 

      And “C’mon”? - watch some matches gives, Roger F, Djokovic, and even Nadal do it. It was popularised by LH but when he does it, he’s arrogant?

      Patriotic lot you are.

    • big_red_ says:

      06:18pm | 20/01/11

      You do realise without Hewitt Aussie mens tennis has absoloutely nothing and it wouldn’t have had anything in the last decade?
      I hope he can regain form, because we’re currently a laughing stock but it’s at least slightly better then being completely irrelevant.

    • Megan says:

      09:19pm | 20/01/11

      Perhaps he actually isn’t married to right person and it’s bringing him down. Look at Agassi when he married Brooke Shields (actress!) he couldn’t win a game. When he finally got with Steffi, a great match and an equal he had an amazing comeback. Hewitt instead of monkey swinging from Clijsters to Cartright, should ditch his parents, grow up, man up, and find an equal like Agassi. Then he may get some great last years of tennis.

    • Walter Grimshaw says:

      10:14am | 21/01/11

      Julie, I implore you to laucnh an investigation into the health of junior player development at bith Tennis Australia and Cricket Australia. We’ve had nothing come through in 10 years! This is of national importance, and I believe you are the right person to hartrangue the top brass in both codes and find a resolution to this national sporting tragedy.

    • Sally says:

      02:03pm | 21/01/11

      Walter, you are right. I know first hand. I had a son who was a very gentically gifted tennis player and Tennis Australia would not embrace him, to reach his potential. It was made so hard in the end we just gave up.

    • Fran says:

      02:06pm | 22/01/11

      Hewitt needs match practice and more work on controlling his energy. He faces a big fight to get back up in the rankings

    • Look after 'em says:

      02:10pm | 22/01/11

      Tennis Australia has a lot to answer for if they aren’t investing in the talent for the future. gifted players need heaps of support - money and professional services.

    • Julie Tullberg says:

      02:39pm | 22/01/11

      Thanks for your views. Walter, I think our tennis problem lies very much with a cultural shift that is so overwhelming it is hard to regain the level of junior competition. I would love to push the right buttons but I think the modern lifestyle has killed the groundswell of talent and potential in the country. For example, I remember hitting a tennis ball for hours and hours and hours against a brick wall, and I had a personal coach (which I paid for while working hard at uni). And then I look around today’s society and we have kids stuck inside, playing video games, watching YouTube and social networking online while the parents work hard to make ends meet. Parents need an incredible amount of money - and time - to give these kids elite opportunities. As a parent myself, the commitment of having an athlete in the family is incredibly consuming that be becomes a giant lifestyle focus. I think better talent ID programs, local institute programs, more government and corporate money (plus incredibly dedicated parents) will help our juniors achieve better results internationally. It’s a complex issue but the talent passionate kid who dreams about Wimbledon and the Grand Slams is the kid who will have the best chance - and remain injury-free!

 

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