shawnbm said:
There is a lot of disrespecting a great player in Lleyton Hewitt, who played a high quality match throughout the final. He rallied well, volleyed well and hit some key lobs. He was tenacious and executed. Roger WAS horrible in the first set, but the second set he was clutch and he fought hard in the third, but Hewitt worked hard and executed. He has played roger many times going back fifteen years; he is not intimidated by the Swiss' achievements or abilities. Lleyton comes to fight and was the better player today.
I would certainly admit that Hewitt played very well and held his ground. In fact,
after Fed came back and won the second set, I fully expected Fed to take it over from
there. But Lleyton held his ground fiercely, especially in the first two service games,
when he was break point down several times.
Again without any disrespect, this is indeed quite an upset considering
1. Hewitt is 6 months older than Fed.
2. Hewitt was 54 ranking spots below Fed at the time of the match.
3. Hewitt had five surgeries over the period of last four years, whereas Fed had none in life.
4. Hewitt had not won a title for the last three years.
But, Hewitt would not yield. That is why he is called a bulldog. If I remember right, he
took out JMDP in USO last year also. Nobody fights harder than Hewitt except Rafa.
I saw Fed's interview after the match. He says he is ready to attach AO etc.
He is doing empty talk and I don't believe a word of it.
Fact of the matter is that he is not able to hang in there in the rallies these days
and without that ability it is hard to win in modern tennis. His serve is still excellent,
but some days he leaves it in the locker room.
:s The old Chinese torture of bamboo sticks under the fingernails might actually be more enjoyable. Definitely goes for set 1 anyway.
