The career of tennis legend Lleyton Hewitt is roaring on in Fuzion 100 Surbiton Challenger $127,000 this week. The un-retired 37 year old former ATP no. 1 is playing doubles on the grass with Alex Bolt, with an eye on acquiring match play on grass for his next assignment, a wildcard into Queens with Nick Kyrgios and most likely a wild card into Wimbledon.
Hewitt and Bolt were locked in a first round war with Brits Marcus Willis and Jay Clarke. The Brits won the first set 64 then the Aussies won the second 75. I tuned into the action with Hewitt/Bolt up 4-2 in the match tiebreaker. Hewitt connected on a winner and yelled a signature “come on.” Then later in the breaker, Hewitt earned another key point and again, the infamous Hewitt “come on” was roared but in only about medium fury. It was not quite a full throttle “come awwwwwwnnnnn!” but it still was clear enough to show viewers who the strongest personality on the court was.
Hewitt still has the burning desire to win. He has nothing to prove, unlike the other three struggling journeymen on the court, who are all striving to become established ATP players.
Yet it was Hewitt, the former ATP world no. 1 from nearly two decades ago, the US Open and Wimbledon king, who exhibited by far the most intensity, desire, fury, obsession on the court yesterday.
It’s almost unbelievable to see an athlete so competitive at this stage of his career. Actually he quit his career three years ago so this is his second career. He still loves to battle, still love to win, nothing in the world can replace that rush of adrenaline that competing in a tennis match offers.
Lleyton Hewitt is surely in the final chapter of his historic career. Or so one would think…
Read about what it’s like to play Lleyton Hewitt in my book “Facing Hewitt” available at amazon for $9.99.
61 comments
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1 2 Next »Scoop Malinowski · June 6, 2018 at 1:50 pm
Hewitt and Bolt beat the top seeds today to make the semi, 63 64. Had the match on and didn’t hear one single Cmon by Hewitt. Curiously, Hewitt is not wearing his trademark backwards hat this week, not even wearing it the conventional way. Hewitt has elected to go no hat.
Dan Markowitz · June 7, 2018 at 7:57 am
What’s so amazing if Hewitt is playing doubles? We’ve seen lots of players at the age of 37 playing doubles on the pro tour; granted no one as exalted as Hewitt was in singles. But when you have Federer playing singles at nearly 37 and being at the top of the world, somehow Hewitt playing doubles at isolated events doesn’t really float my boat much.
catherine · June 7, 2018 at 9:32 am
RG comments as previous thread a bit long. Muguruza is getting wiped by Simona – 4-0 first set.
catherine · June 7, 2018 at 9:49 am
6 -1 Halep. Bye bye Garbine.
Chazz · June 7, 2018 at 10:29 am
I really hope Halep finishes this off because the final on Saturday would be a win-win for me. It would be nice to see a first time Slam winner or Stephens win her 2nd.
Scoop Malinowski · June 7, 2018 at 11:00 am
Hewitt retired in 2015. It’s a big deal. Dan you know your boat would have been floating if Spadea made his comeback.
catherine · June 7, 2018 at 11:01 am
Well Chazz you got your wish. Garbine’s problem is that she has nothing to fall back on and neither has Sharapova so they were well matched and Muguruza just hit harder and was more consistent.
Now a lot of the players know The Truth About Garbine she will struggle.
My guess is it will be Sloane in the final and Simona will win.
catherine · June 7, 2018 at 12:54 pm
Yes- Stephens SS over Keys and I bet when Sloane began this long trek nearly two weeks ago she didn’t in her wildest dreams see herself in the final.
Ryan Balon · June 7, 2018 at 1:00 pm
As far as Hewitt I do find it amazing especially where he is playing right- I mean a challenger…….
It just shows his love and passion for the game
C’mon!
Scoop Malinowski · June 7, 2018 at 1:11 pm
Ryan, and the Surbiton Challenger looks like a very very minor league event too. The fact that this legendary player is lowering himself to the minor leagues like this speaks of his love and dedication to the sport and competing.
Scoop Malinowski · June 7, 2018 at 1:17 pm
Simona vs Sloane is an intriguing final, feels like Simona is on a destiny run however SS is so explosive and powerful and could blast her off the court. I would really like to see Simona finally get the you know what off her back. She has suffered enough and deserves to win her first major this weekend.
Dan Markowitz · June 7, 2018 at 4:01 pm
I think I saw Halep is 5-2 over Stephens in h-to-h. Look Spadea played doubles in a Challenger last year in Las Vegas and I didn’t think it was too big of a deal. But it was Spadea who doesn’t nearly match up with Hewitt.
I’d be way more impressed if Hewitt came back and tried to play singles. He’s in good shape,; he’s around the game, the fact that he’s playing Challenger doubles with the hopes of playing in a slam is pretty big news, but it’s not like Borg re-emerging on his comeback when he was 34.
Thomas Tung · June 7, 2018 at 4:52 pm
Borg’s comeback was with wooden rackets, no less.
Bobby Hurley · June 7, 2018 at 8:09 pm
I give credit to Hewitt playing doubles to develop the offensive part of his game (volleys / transition game) that so many counter puncher neglect. Heck he won a major in doubles w Max Mirni. I’m sure those hip surgeries prevent singles play.
Good call on Schwartzman who took a set off Nadal. You’d have to give Del Potro a punchers chance against Nadal.
Dan Markowitz · June 7, 2018 at 8:53 pm
I think Cecchinatto has a better chance of knocking Thiem off than Delpo turning the tables on Nadal.
Thomas, that Borg comeback was also done nine years after he retired. Remarkable, he was training with the young Goran in Monte Carlo and Goran said he thought Borg at 34 was the fastest player on the tour. What a mover. In my mind, an even better mover than Nadal.
Scoop Malinowski · June 7, 2018 at 8:56 pm
I see Delpo Soderlingning Rafa tomorrow. Thiem will terminate the miracle man. Chan is the best woman doubles player in the world but she was off this year with Hingis now retired and her sister is a weaker link though she is pretty good. I saw the Chan sisters choke away a 7-2 lead in a match tiebreaker in Miami to Siniakova and another player. Angel Chan choked it away. The younger Chan is taller and ganglier and not as good an athlete. Chan just needs the right partner and she shows she is the best. Though her partnership this year with Hlavackova must have had bad chemistry because they aborted it after just a few tournaments.
Scoop Malinowski · June 7, 2018 at 8:56 pm
Borg should have come back as a doubles specialist.
Duke Carnoustie · June 7, 2018 at 9:51 pm
The real story would be if Hewitt played doubles with Tomic or was in mixed doubles with Clijsters.
Duke Carnoustie · June 7, 2018 at 11:46 pm
Really hard to believe that Djoker lost to this drop-shotting joker. Thiem will obliterate the match-fixing Italian or my name isn’t The Duke.
Interesting that Cecc beat Thiem in a Futures event 5 years ago. He is one of several studs to pull out of Stuttgart along with Monfils, Chung and Ferrer. Berdych and Marterer took WCs.
Didn’t realize Harrison may be hurt, he pulled out of Hertogenbosch.
Scoop Malinowski · June 8, 2018 at 7:52 am
If the final is Del Potro vs Cecchinato I will enforce Dan losing his bet years ago to Tommyboy where he vowed to walk through the US Open food court on all fours barking like a dog 🙂 Dan do I remember those details correctly? Delpo vs Thiem would be a rematch of their US Open five setter.
Scoop Malinowski · June 8, 2018 at 9:58 am
Coco Gauff into the RG girls F vs McNally. She is 14. Korda lost in SF to the kid he beat in Aus F. Lopez Lopez lost in doubles semi. Thiem as expected routed Cecchinato. Now the main event is Rafa vs Delpo. I smell an upset or at least an epic brawl.
Scoop Malinowski · June 8, 2018 at 9:59 am
Don’t expect to see Hewitt play doubles with Tomic again though they did play in Miami a few years back and lost. I remember seeing this match.
Joe Blow · June 8, 2018 at 10:06 am
Unbelievable that the French turned the Men’s semi’s into twoseperste tickets.. Squeeze every Euro out of the fans..
Interesting to see if US every follows this scheme
Scoop Malinowski · June 8, 2018 at 12:12 pm
Nadal blasting away Delpo, mismatch beatdown. Thiem had his early chances last year in the semi, if he’s better now as he is saying, he should be able to give Rafa a fight.
Chazz · June 8, 2018 at 12:55 pm
I really hope this isn’t another Nadal beatdown final, and I think Thiem is the best chance to avoid that. A Thiem win or at least a 5 setter would be great to see.
Scoop Malinowski · June 8, 2018 at 1:40 pm
Nadal in three. Could be the worst major final this decade. The way Rafa looked today just killed Thiem’s chances. Federer may decide to skip Wimbledon too considering how scary Rafa looks right now.
Thomas Tung · June 8, 2018 at 3:14 pm
Agree, Scoop — the final between Sloane and Simona might be more exciting, as it turns out (even if Simona, essentially, has the same game as Sloane, but trades a bit of firepower for more foot speed, endurance, and overall court experience/craftiness). I do like both of their games, and it was good seeing Simona do a Chang, and come out more aggressive against Muguruza, by taking the balls early on the baseline, combined with rugged, smart defensive skills.
I’m for Simona winning (think she really deserves it), but a Stephens win would be welcome, too.
I’m also pretty sure Rafa will get “La Undecima” on Sunday (as the marketers have been hyping it up as). Thiem has yet to show that he can perform at the Grand Slam final level, and he has been tight, mentally, the last two years he was within distance of a final at RG.
Michael in UK · June 8, 2018 at 6:10 pm
I agree with Chazz, but come on everyone, if Nadal is on peak form, it seems unfair to moan about the final being a foregone conclusion etc.
At least recognise we are fortunate to be watching the best clay court player ever, Past or future. And indeed, maybe the best player ever, period, as our US friends and hosts would say.
Anyway, I hope Thiem will bring his best game and take it to Rafa. OVerall I think it has been a great Roland Garros.
Bobby Hurley · June 8, 2018 at 6:32 pm
Don’t know if it will happen. But a fresh Thiem beating Nadal will be far more enjoyable than an easy Nadal victory. Hope it goes five. Would like to see Halep get a trophy. She gave everything up to win.
Duke Carnoustie · June 8, 2018 at 10:32 pm
Some big matches tomorrow in Hertogenbosch, most notably Tomic facing Dustin Brown in qualifying. Tricky opponent for Bernie.
DY is facing a Dutch wild card ranked No. 611 as he tries to resurrect his failing career.
Watching the NBA Basketball championships now, Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers. Wonder if any of these guys could play tennis.
Dan Markowitz · June 8, 2018 at 11:38 pm
Are you kidding me? There’s no way Stephens loses to Halep. That’s not happening.
Thomas Tung · June 9, 2018 at 1:01 am
Can you explain how “there’s no way Stephens loses to Halep”, Dan? Halep has a 5-2 winning record against Stephens, including the last 4 matches they played (2 of them in 2017 on hard [Cincinnati/DC], 1 in 2015 on hard [Miami], and 1 in 2014 at RG) …
Given that track record, I’d say that Simone has a really good chance to win against Sloane. Perhaps Halep’s time has come, just like it did for Wozniacki in the AO, earlier this year.
Thomas Tung · June 9, 2018 at 1:07 am
And in other news, the lovely “Sao Paulo Swallow”, Maria Bueno, has passed away. Condolences to her loved ones.
http://www.espn.com/tennis/story/_/id/23738360/brazilian-tennis-great-maria-bueno-dies-cancer-battle
catherine · June 9, 2018 at 3:10 am
Thomas – thanks for the link -I remember Maria although I didn’t see her play until she was past her prime. So much of her career was lost to illness and injuries – otherwise she might have won many more titles I suspect.
She had a rivalry with Margaret Court, and although they couldn’t have been more different they did both train and hit with men which started a trend for top women players.
Maria was a private person – I remember a top US player, who played doubles with her, telling me that Maria never spoke to her off court and that, in the dressing room ‘nobody knew Maria’.
Only Evonne Goolagong rivalled Maria Bueno for grace of movement. Both had the same quality.
Interesting piece, on the same link, about Mary Pierce and her life in Mauritius, something Scoop and I were discussing a while ago.
Agree with you re final today – Simona will win it. Can’t think why Dan favours Sloane.
catherine · June 9, 2018 at 3:33 am
Quote from Maria when she won the Sportswoman of the Year award in 1959: “I’m not good. I’m afraid of everyone I play”.
A different time, clearly, pre PR and ‘media coaching’.
Scoop Malinowski · June 9, 2018 at 6:46 am
Thomas, Dan is not a fully informed authority on women’s tennis but if Stephens upsets Halep, even Catherine might begrudgingly anoint him as one.
Scoop Malinowski · June 9, 2018 at 7:22 am
DY is down 46 14 to a 29 year old Dutch lefty journeyman ranked in the 600s, a name none of us have ever seen. Miliaan Nestien. Could this be the final nail in the career of DY? If he can’t even get by a no name sub sub journeyman ranked 600 something in the world you have to wonder. Shockingly awful year for Young on so many levels. He can’t win anymore.
Scoop Malinowski · June 9, 2018 at 7:45 am
Nestien defeats DY 64 62. Vince Spadea please call DY ASAP.
Chazz · June 9, 2018 at 8:14 am
Has there ever been a guy who is still near his prime (28 yrs old) fall so badly in one year? I’m pretty sure he was near the top 50 a year ago. He needs a sports psychologist like David Duval needed in golf.
Scoop Malinowski · June 9, 2018 at 8:28 am
Chazz, Gulbis played US Open a year ago and was ranked around 90, beat Giannessi then fell way way down the rankings to like 400-500, and he lost to several guys outside 400 500 and 600. I’d have to look at the downward spirals of DY and Gulbis closer to see if they are comparable but Young’s crash has been astoundingly steep. He was in the French Open doubles final a year ago.
catherine · June 9, 2018 at 10:00 am
Sloane leading 6-3 FS 🙂
catherine · June 9, 2018 at 10:45 am
Halep takes 2nd set – how many 3 set finals has Simona lost ?
catherine · June 9, 2018 at 11:16 am
Simona cruises to the title 6-1 3rd set. Sorry Dan.
Hartt · June 9, 2018 at 11:40 am
Simona showed incredible fight at the end of the 2nd set and during the third. There was no way she was going to let this one slip through her fingers. And she has been very clear that RG is the Slam she most wanted to win.
There was major celebration on the Match Call Migrants site. We have a lot of Simona fans there, so a huge sense of relief when she finally won this. Now that Simona has won her first Slam, it should be somewhat easier to win the next. 🙂
catherine · June 9, 2018 at 12:06 pm
Hartt – I can see some of the other women getting extra motivated to make sure Simona doesn’t win another Slam right away – which won’t be a bad thing.
A few players have had their reputations slightly dented at RG this year, so it will be interesting to see how the next part of season turns out. I have to say I was surprised Sloane made the final, but she did and there’s no taking that away from her.
Svitolina disappointed me in Paris, so did Muguruza, whose whole game needs picking apart and putting back together. A couple of others are promising but not quite ready. It’s good to see Simona win at last but I wouldn’t say, overall, the women’s game is in great shape.
Hartt · June 9, 2018 at 12:33 pm
Catherine, have to agree with you about the current state of the women’s game. I was so excited to finally see women’s matches on TV, and then it would be a player winning easily in one match only to get creamed in the next.
Although this final was strange, with one player dominating the first half, and the other player the second half, there were many entertaining points. I am not really a Sloane fan, but was impressed with her play at the beginning, especially how well she moved. Simona had to up her level to change things, but she did just that. Once she got the break in the third set there was no way she was going to make the same mistake as last year – becoming too defensive. She continued to give everything she had, and her superior fitness was a factor as well.
Dan Markowitz · June 9, 2018 at 4:56 pm
Alright, I don’t know how I missed this match except SS was right there at a set up and like 4-all in the second set, but then for about six games she got too defensive. Halep played well and battled better. She a solid player, but neither player is a real special player. I think Stephens is quite special because she can come back from huge swoons to winning big events.
Let put it this way, Serena even at 36 and with a baby, can beat either of these women if she’s playing 75-80 per cent of her best. But congrats to Simona and to Killa Cahill. It was amazing how many Rumanian fans were attending this match including ion Tiriac.
Scoop Malinowski · June 9, 2018 at 6:17 pm
Historic terrific win for Halep. Hard to believe she won this from a set and 0-2 down in the second, she looked lost and confused by Sloane’s fantastic combination of offensive firepower and smart strategic defense. I left to give a lesson at 2-0 Sloane in the second then found out later Halep won. Shocked but well deserved. I beat a very very good player in the NJ State 35s red clay today, 75 75, one of my best wins. But injured left hip in last game on an awkward lunge bh volley, can barely walk now, would have retired if I lost second set, can’t run or barely walk now, hope it’s not serious, Dan you would know about hips. Congrats to Simona Halep and all of Romania for this historic win, also congrats to Sloane for a great run and keeping American tennis in the headlines.
Duke Carnoustie · June 9, 2018 at 7:17 pm
DY manages six games against a Dutch no-name. He has fallen off the face of the earth. He will have to spend the next year grinding out Challengers. Right now he can’t beat Scoop or Dan.
Tomic downs Brown and now faces Smyczek in a major showdown.
Duke Carnoustie · June 9, 2018 at 7:19 pm
I will say that Dan will have to stop ripping women’s tennis since I watched a wonderful women’s final at RG. Fair play to Simona for persevering and defending her butt off when Sloane had the upper hand. I thought at 4-all, Sloane would get over the finish line.
Simona is a worthy champion and No. 1 and I predict more Slams for her. Time for Svitolina, Woj, Kerber and the rest to fight back.