An interview I did with an Australian media outlet about my latest tennis book “Facing Hewitt”…
Question: What inspired you to do a book about Lleyton Hewitt?
It started out as a magazine feature idea that was eventually published in the Australian Open program in January. The feature was well received and I decided to develop it further into a book.
Question: Was it a challenge to get interviews with ATP players and were they willing to discuss their matches and experiences with Hewitt?
Most players are very accessible and seemed happy to talk about the unique experience of what it’s like to Face Hewitt. The challenging part is the time factor, most players are busy and always off to do something so I wish I could have had a lot more time with many of the players. But the ones I approached were quite generous with their time and memories and shared many interesting anecdotes and stories. Another obstacle is that it’s very difficult to get one on one time with Federer, Nadal, Djokovic but that’s just the way it is.
Question: Can you share a memorable example of a story that a player told you about Hewitt?
The one that pops in my head first is from Guillermo Canas. Canas said he was practicing with Marcelo Rios in Stuttgart, when Rios was top five in the world and Hewitt was still very young and ranked around 50. Canas and Rios were practicing next to Hewitt and during a break Rios said to Canas, “See that kid over there? That’s the future number one player in the world.†Canas said he was like, “No way.†But Rios turned out to be right, Rios saw something special in Hewitt and a few years later he did indeed fulfill the prediction of Rios. I thought it was interesting how Rios could see so clearly the special talents in Hewitt and give him such high praise to a fellow competitor.
Question: What did you learn from the experience of writing Facing Hewitt?
Well I followed Hewitt’s career closely because he rose to prominence in the later 90s and that’s when I first really got into tennis myself. I vividly remember watching Hewitt a lot on TV and live at the US Open a few times. So I remember Hewitt well from an outsider view. This book is from an insider view, from the players. It was interesting to hear players discuss Hewitt and it was very enjoyable to learn this firsthand information. It was a bit surprising how much respect and admiration the players have for Hewitt and his example. Rivals like Alex Corretja, Jeff Tarango, Gael Monfils, Juan Martin Del Potro, Greg Rusedski, Jan Michael Gambill, Rafael Nadal spoke very highly of Hewitt.â€
Question: When and where did you speak with Nadal about Hewitt?
At the Sony Open this year, at Nadal’s press conference before he was scheduled to play Hewitt in Miami I asked him just to talk about how it feels to face Hewitt and some of his memorable matches with Hewitt. Nadal played Hewitt several times, they had some great battles in Australia when Rafa was still a young gun. Nadal spoke reverently about Hewitt to the point that I got a sense Hewitt’s example and fighting spirit were a big influence on his career.
Facing HewittQuestion: Why should a tennis fan read Facing Hewitt?
Hewitt is one of the great champions of the sport and he should be remembered for more than just being a guy between the Sampras and Federer reigns. Like I said, Hewitt was a tremendous champion, who pulled off so many miraculous wins. He was a different kind of player and it was a different experience to compete against him and also to watch him.
He was a fascinating champion in many ways, he was a smaller guy who overcame all the giants and dominated the sport for two years. Also, Hewitt changed the sport and took it to another level. As Ivan Ljubicic pointed out, Hewitt was the first baseline counterpuncher guy to conquer the big servers like Sampras and Goran Ivanisevic. Since Hewitt was number one in the early 2000s, tennis has primarily been a baseline game. Historically speaking, Hewitt is a big part of tennis history and this book pays tribute and paints a portrait of Hewitt from the direct perspective of the players.
Question: Anything else you’d like to add?
In Newport this summer I personally gave Hewitt a copy of the book after his quarterfinal win against Steve Johnson. I think the book might have pumped up and inspired Hewitt, to read about how favorably and positively players spoke about him, because Hewitt went on to win the singles and doubles titles in Newport, the only time in his career that he swept both singles and doubles at an ATP event.
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Dan Markowitz · September 19, 2014 at 9:58 am
Good piece, Scoop. Although, did Hewitt really conquer Sampras? He beat him the one time at the Open, but you wouldn’t put Hewitt in Agassi’s category, in fact, what’s Andre’s H-to-H against Lleyton, and Agassi certainly didn’t conquer Sampras.
Also, specious argument that your giving Hewitt a copy at Hewitt spurred him onto winning the event. When we walked behind Hewitt in the US Open locker room and you asked Lleyton how he liked the book, calling it out from behind him as he briskly walked in front of us, he said something like, “Yeah, mate,” which I don’t think is proof that he read the book.
Still, these “Facing” books are a great idea and interesting tennis literary contribution. Well done.
Andrew Miller · September 19, 2014 at 1:19 pm
It is unique b/c Scoop doesnt distract the player – he gets everyone else to talk about the player (from third person point of view), so it doesn’t disrupt the player or the interview subjects. Dan made a point of this with Spadea, that publishing your diary is a lot different than seeing a book basically about what your peers think of you. One is how you see the world, the other, how the world sees you. Put both together and you have the player. Well done on all counts.
Thought the Hewitt win vs. Sampras was huge, I thought for sure it was Sampras’ match. Sampras himself said no one returns like Hewitt other than Agassi, he was right. I think now you have to put Nadal and Djokovic even Murray in that “top returner” bracket, all time top returner bracket. But hewitt even inspired Agassi there. Was hoping the Baghdatis would make it to that promised land but hey, he still has something in the tank, just not sure what it is.
Hewitt made a fan of me in his latest years on tour, when earlier I didn’t like him much, seemed arrogant to me. Now he seems like the guy you want to play like.
Scoop Malinowski · September 19, 2014 at 9:40 pm
THanks Dan. Agassi had Gilbert who had the blueprint on how to beat Hewitt, he explains it and it’s in the book. Hewitt had a good record vs. Sampras even played him very close when he was just sixteen or seventeen in Boston. Hewitt, even as a kid, could give Pete trouble. I think Hewitt’s game was actually Pete’s kryptonite and we saw it very clearly in their US Open final.
Scoop Malinowski · September 19, 2014 at 9:43 pm
I’m certain he read it. It was also in the Aussie Open program this Jan. as an excerpt. How could anyone not want to read what his or her peers say about him? I’m certain Fed read Facing Federer too.
Scoop Malinowski · September 19, 2014 at 9:45 pm
Thanks Andrew. Our books are both good fun entertaining reads, hope we can create many more too. I look forward to Dan’s next tennis book, maybe about Gulbis.
EddietheEagle · September 20, 2014 at 3:30 am
Scoop, it’s good to come across fresh and interesting insight into tennis. Thanks for bringing us all a tad closer to knowing about and understanding, these great players.
Scoop Malinowski · September 20, 2014 at 7:40 am
Thanks Eddie, happy to hear you enjoy what we are doing. Readers like you bring a lot to the site too, you keep us inspired, we couldn’t still be here without our loyal and dedicated readers.
Andrew Miller · September 20, 2014 at 10:59 am
Pete Bodo of tennis magazine once said players definitely read about themselves . I dont think they read enough but they definitely read about themselves. The womens tour has more readers . Kirilenko is a big reader, reads a lot of great literature, and Serena Williams too. But as for googling themselves just see twitter these guys post profiles on them etc . It i s actually helpful as the media can be a second coach . You can look at what say a reporter said about how you couldnt get around on your forehand and fix it. That is a big boost. If they say you are doing great that is meaningless. But if they say something about your game that is helpful. Or can be.
For hewitt cant imagine it isnt helpful to see all this writing about his game and how players see it. Just admire what he said to one reporter after losing to federer oneyear,something along the lines of how can you be at this guy.
“I guess that’s why you’re sitting there and i’m sitting here.”
One of best quotes of all time. Hewitt basically said i am pushing it and i am in the game.
Dan markowitz · September 20, 2014 at 11:30 am
Rare for players to read much, especially literature. For the most part, Andrew, these aren’t educated people. They don’t go to college, a lot like Agassi had high school educations that were jokes. I once asked Spadea what books he liked and except for maybe Arnold Schwarzeneggr’s biography, he hadn’t read a book. Where did you hear Serena reads literature?
They might read tennis web sites and there’s the exception like Courier and Blake amongst the American men players that read books of substance, but if you asked 100 pro players who wrote “Huckleberry Finn” for example, I don’t think more than a handful would know.
Scoop Malinowski · September 20, 2014 at 5:55 pm
Andrew, for sure the players read about themselves. We even experienced it at the old tennisweek.com messageboards where Dan was a well known critic of James Blake. At one point, after a few years of Dan’s relentless jabbing and criticisms, Blake appeared and made a comment to defend himself, calling himself “James Himself.” So that proved right there that players do read about themselves. I was also told by an editor at that site that he once wrote something about Patrick McEnroe on the message board and P Mac challenged him on it in person the next time they met. That old site tennisweek.com was an excellent site and forum, the inspiration, if you will, in many ways, for tennis-prose.com. Remember that Hewitt quote, that was classic Hewitt. )
Scoop Malinowski · September 20, 2014 at 6:04 pm
Dan I think you’re wrong on that, a lot of players are educated, as evidenced by how many different languages they can speak, especially the non Americans. Blake went to Harvard. A lot of the Russians continue their education even during their active careers – Mirnyi Dementieva and Zvonareva are examples. For Biofiles I always ask about Last Book Read and almost every player has an answer. In all my interviews and Biofiles in tennis, I have never met an unintelligent tennis player. There are so many decisions and challenges mentally that you have to deal with that you must be very very smart to make it as a pro tennis player.
jblitz · September 20, 2014 at 10:00 pm
Amen Scoop. Plus there’s more to smarts than just book smarts. These guys travel around the globe and learn more about the world and different cultures than almost anybody. David Ferrer is infamous for all the books he reads. Rafa has said that he always ends his days by visiting many news sites on the internet to keep up with what’s going on in the world since the tennis world can be quite insular. Milos Raonic studies relative and quantum physics on the side.
Of course tennis has its share of dumb jocks but I’d lay odds it has a higher percentage of very smart athletes than most sports.
jblitz · September 20, 2014 at 10:33 pm
“Sampras himself said no one returns like Hewitt other than Agassi, he was right. I think now you have to put Nadal and Djokovic even Murray in that “top returner†bracket, all time top returner bracket.”
You’re right, Andrew, about the “top returners”. The ATP site has lots of stats and right now, Rafa is second on the all time list of Return Games Won. David Ferrer is #4 and Agassi is #6. Murray and Djokovic are #9 and #10 respectively. Hewitt is #21. http://www.atpworldtour.com/Matchfacts/Matchfacts-List.aspx?c=9&s=0&y=0
By the way, Rafa is the best among all active players in the four Return of Serve categories – #3 in Career 1st Serve Return Points Won, #4 in Career 2nd Serve Return Points Won, and #2 in Career Break Points Converted. It kills me how the commentators and the media (and many on the tennis forums) go on and on about Djokovic being the best returner ever when he’s only fourth best amongst the active players. Ferrer and Murray are ahead of him too.
Hewitt by the way is #21, #32, #19 and #20 in the above four noted categories. Agassi is #6, #49, #2 and #18 and Djokovic is #9, #10, #13 and #7.
I think most people would be surprised if they actually looked at the stats and, for one, saw that the supposed goat Federer isn’t at or near the top of most categories and that Nadal is – even in the serve stats. Would it change the general commentary? Not likely because the media has declared Federer the most wondrous thing they’ve ever seen and they’ll continue to worship at that shrine forevermore…unfortunately.
Andrew Miller · September 21, 2014 at 1:16 am
Jblitz that is awful good company for returners. These guys must have great vision, timing footwork.
As for dan and the books i think dan is right, i dont think whats read qualifies generally but a lot of players do have a book with them . Education true also, some of it was or is a joke. As for seeing world no doubt these guys ladies see more of the world than almost anyone and in more spots etc- towns everyone and no one has heard of. But on the book front probably not.
I had one coach for a few days who was so bitter about his education that we had to say no thanks. So bitter he took it out on his players. Some players dont love the game or feel forced into it without other options. Some say even if forced they feel like part of the game and give as much as they get.
Andrew Miller · September 21, 2014 at 1:18 am
On serena thought she did read a lot – her dad was fierce on this, so they both speak a few fx languages. Met serena and venus a few times, they were nothing like the players at the press conferences!
jblitz · September 21, 2014 at 5:55 am
Not sure about Serena and Venus speaking several foreign languages. Serena has learned to speak French but that’s because she has a Paris apartment and lived there half the time, or at least she did when she was in a relationship with her French coach. Haven’t heard of either of them speaking any other.
Scoop Malinowski · September 21, 2014 at 9:26 am
I’d say Serena is the smartest player in the world right now, on the female side. And I’d say Djokovic is on the ATP side. You don’t get to the top in an individual sport by just physical domination, it also takes psychological dominance. Serena and Djokovic have that dominance now. Same applies for boxing, Mike Tyson didn’t just have power and speed he had the intelligence of how to locate his bombs to the target despite taller longer armed adversaries. Tyson’s smarts allowed him to execute the combinations to set up the KO blows. Mike Tyson is a genius mind. I think the same thing applies for the number one tennis players. The best are the strongest and the smartest.
Andrew Miller · September 21, 2014 at 10:42 am
jblitz is right. I had thought it was more than French, but that’s it.
Andrew Miller · September 21, 2014 at 10:44 am
For what it’s worth, U.S. tennis pros and French language:
http://espn.go.com/espnw/athletes-life/article/9297928/espnw-american-tennis-players-struggle-language-surface-more-french-open
Bryan · September 21, 2014 at 4:43 pm
“he was a smaller guy who overcame all the giants and dominated the sport for two years. Also, Hewitt changed the sport and took it to another level.”
Agreed. It seems tennis relies on physical conditioning more since Hewitt’s days on top. He used strength, speed and hustle to outmaneuver the bigger players. Now we can see that in guys like Nishikori.
Adrian · September 22, 2014 at 4:41 am
[…]I think most people would be surprised if they actually looked at the stats and, for one, saw that the supposed goat Federer isn’t at or near the top of most categories and that Nadal is – even in the serve stats. Would it change the general commentary? Not likely because the media has declared Federer the most wondrous thing they’ve ever seen and they’ll continue to worship at that shrine forevermore…unfortunately.[…]
Jblitz, that was kind of a cheap shot – of course Federer’s stats let’s say 5- or 5+ years ago (same as the age difference between Fed and Nadal, Murray and Djokovic) were much more impressive and would have more than stood up to those of his considerably younger peers and also Hewitt would be right up there with the best in terms of return game. At a first glance those stats paint a distorted picture. Some other random numbers: Nadal played 342 out of a total of 839 matches on clay, self-evidently his best surface (93% won) while Federer played 150 out of 1204 matches on grass, his best surface (87% won)…yet, the two are pretty close when it comes to the overall win-loss record (84% for Nadal opposite to Federer’s 82%).
Scoop Malinowski · September 22, 2014 at 8:51 am
And Bryan, Goffin just won a title, he’s been on a big roll for the last couple of months. Small man tennis still can succeed in this big man world of ATP.
Dan Markowitz · September 22, 2014 at 9:11 am
A Jarmere Jenkins sighting recently, he won the Futures in Florida last week taking down Sandgren in a 7-6 third set in the semis and Novikov in the finals, rather easily. Could this be the start of the climb for Jenkins?!
Interesting Challenger in Napa this week with Qball playing as well as Ginepri, Harry, Klahn and Kudla. First round match, Harry v Donaldson. Noah Rubin lost soundly to a German in first round of qualis.
Andrew Miller · September 22, 2014 at 10:59 am
Jj has it. More consistency and i like his top 100 chances.
Scoop Malinowski · September 22, 2014 at 2:19 pm
Big win for Jarmere, I was told he took some time off around US Open after losing seven or eight first rounds in a row. Good to see this talented good guy back and on the right track.
Scoop Malinowski · September 22, 2014 at 9:49 pm
Nice work on the stats Adrian, aka statmeister. Didn’t realize Fed and Nadal’s loaded up numbers on their favorite surfaces was so even.
jblitz · September 23, 2014 at 9:01 am
The “loaded up” stats aren’t even. Federer’s favourite surface has been hard courts which comprise 60.4% of his total matches (727 out of 1204). Nadal’s favourite surface has been, not surprisingly, clay on which he has played 40.7% (342 out of 839) of his matches. Only 12.4% (150 out of 1204) of Fed’s matches have been on grass.
Yes, Fed has great numbers on grass with an 87.3% winning percentage and also on hard where he has won 82.7%. Nadal, it goes without saying, has been a monster on clay where he’s won 93.0%, an unheard of stat that will likely never be equaled. Just because Rafa has amazing stats on clay you can’t minimize his accomplishments on that surface any more than you can Fed’s on hard.
Actually their overall win-loss record is 83.7% (not 84%) for Nadal and Federer’s is 81.3% (not 82%) which in the big scheme of things is quite substantial. Rafa (83.7%) has the best winning percentage in the Open Era while Fed’s 81.3 is only 6th best. Borg (82.9%), Connors (81.8%), Lendl (81.8%), and McEnroe (81.5%) are all ahead of him.
I stand by my statement “that the supposed goat Federer isn’t at or near the top of most categories and that Nadal is”.
Scoop Malinowski · September 23, 2014 at 9:19 am
Nadal is the better player than Federer, the head to head and overall achievements confirm it. All four majors, Olympic gold, Davis Cups, head to head advantage. No stats can alter this assertion.
Bryan · September 25, 2014 at 2:11 am
And Bryan, Goffin just won a title, he’s been on a big roll for the last couple of months. Small man tennis still can succeed in this big man world of ATP.”
Yes, Goffin is another timely example. The guy is even shorter than Nishikori and looks like a kid yet he’s smacking winners and making big players look like lumbering giants. Both are in the Hewitt mold.
Scoop Malinowski · September 25, 2014 at 8:33 am
Goffin indeed looks like a kid, small guy, but he’s obviously got something very special. Funny how Belgium seems to produce an inordinate amount of smaller yet very talented players. Rochus Bros, Darcis, Bemelmans, Goffin, Flipkens, Henin.