French Open - Hewitt eagerly awaiting Nadal clash

Eurosport - Fri, 29 May 15:15:00 2009

Lleyton Hewitt is one of the few players on the men's tour who does not have a losing record against Rafael Nadal but that stat is likely to disappear when they meet in the French Open third round.

Australia's Lleyton Hewitt jubilates after winning his first round match against Croatia's Ivo Karlovic at the French Open first round AP - 0

The Australian former world number one is locked at 4-4 in their head-to-heads, although all three meetings on clay have resulted in wins for Nadal, including a fourth-round clash at Roland Garros in 2007.

When they met two years ago, Hewitt was made to look like a bystander as he was flattened into the Parisian clay in three swift sets by the claycourt king.

Hewitt, a former Wimbledon and US Open champion, has built his reputation on lightning movement and an iron resolve. He admires the same traits in Nadal.

"I think my game can match up well against him sometimes if I'm executing the way I want to, which I'm going to have to do," said the 28-year-old.

"I'll go out there and play my game and hopefully I can have one of my best matches.

"Over five sets it probably makes it a bit tougher than beating him in a best-of-three-set match on this surface. But I've still got to go out there and worry about my game and not his."

The Spaniard, aiming to become the first player to win five consecutive titles in Paris, is also a big fan of Hewitt but is likely to show the Australian grinder scant regard once the duo step on court for their heavyweight showdown.

"Always, it's a very tough match to play against Lleyton. I have to play well to have chances to win, so that's what I want (to) try," said the 22-year-old world number one, who boasts a 30-0 record at Roland Garros.

"If I play my best tennis, I'm going to have chances."

Hewitt has two Roland Garros quarter-finals on his resume but it would be a major shock if he was to reach the fourth round this time round.

"He's obviously an unbelievable athlete and he always believed in himself, and I think that's why he's been able to have great success at a young age," said Hewitt.

"This is why I'm still playing the game, to put myself in positions like this to have a crack at the big guys in the biggest tournaments we've got.

"It's something I thrive on. I go out there and enjoy it, and I look forward to the challenge. It's not going to be easy, but I go out there, give 100 percent and see what happens."

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Reuters

Comment 25 - 44 of 44

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  1. yeah he waited eagerly to get spanked! hmmm should have­ just kept your big mouth shut...

    From mark_meu, on Fri 29 May 7:10PM

  2. Half a brain, that's what you are. After Hewitt­ beat Sampras in the US, Sampras came back to win it­ beating Andre. Perhaps not so ageing after all.

    From Katy, on Fri 29 May 1:40PM

  3. Eurosport, if you read these messages I'd like you­ to know how cruel you are to your Italian viewers. All­ this week we miss the tennis for 2 hours because of the­ cycling. Why? It's on national tv but tennis NEVER­ is. And not only we are excluded from watchin
    Eurosport­ player. Not sure yet but it seems highly probable that­ everyone in Italy will
    miss the Nadal/ Hewitt match. At­ least some of it. Then you tell us that Andy's­ match
    today will be on British Eurosport in its­ entirety. Don't you think that we in Italy would­ want to watch too? There are thousands of British here­ in Italy. I would pay double what you ask to have­ Eurosport player.

    From Katy, on Fri 29 May 1:36PM

  4. Sounds a bit funny, because i think its going to be a­ one way game for Nadal.Although you never know, his­ only chance is a possible bad day for Nadal but good to­ see Lleyton still believes in his abilities.

    From borenbo, on Fri 29 May 12:23PM

  5. Leyton is a good player.. fantastic contra player with­ strong basseline shots..
    He he doesn`t stand a chance­ against clay cort king! :)

    From ralesrbin, on Fri 29 May 12:12PM

  6. C'MON LLEYTON !!!

    From MadoX, on Fri 29 May 11:08AM

  7. Nadal killed Hewitt on hardcourt last year...he has NO­ chance on clay :p. Steight sets for Nadal as Hewitt­ will just stay back and trade blows...worst tactic­ against nadal!!!

    From Matthew B, on Fri 29 May 10:30AM

  8. cmon hewitt! i know u can still be the best in the­ game! u're the reason i love tennis! let's go­ hewitt, let's go!!

    From Edward, on Fri 29 May 10:07AM

  9. Hope Hewitt goes home with his tail in between his­ legs! Come on!

    From rightontheline, on Fri 29 May 10:01AM

  10. It could be a very great match to follow. To people who­ likes to stay at the baseline. If Hewitt gets fired up­ with a few "come on´s" he could put up a­ fight for Nadal. But Nadal will win no doubt it.

    From markwandy, on Fri 29 May 9:51AM

  11. Hewitt is a charismatic player should be very­ interesting,sometimes you need big mouths its good for­ the game,bring it on

    From kirovrtanoski, on Fri 29 May 9:35AM

  12. Should be a good ding @#$% battle, but expect Nadal to­ come through.

    From ispurs, on Fri 29 May 9:23AM

  13. I think this will be a game of 2 very fine players­ without all the hype of the "big 4" players,­ i see Hewitt as more like the old fashioned players we­ used to know but also i think Rafa will win. Vamos Rafa­ and good luck to Hewitt

    From Jane P, on Fri 29 May 9:07AM

  14. Hewitt's "come on" is as irritating as­ Ivanovic's silly fist pumps at every point­ including opponents mistakes.

    From Hannibal Lecter_lives, on Fri 29 May 8:57AM

  15. On clay, nobody has anything to lose when they face­ Nadal. It relieves alot of pressure.

    From jbrainsane, on Fri 29 May 8:46AM

  16. THe fighting spirit is not in showing the face of­ Steven Sigal while bashing the pale enemies. Nadal has­ a fighting spirit, but Hewitt has only the­ ''come on'' and the fiest and I­ honestly get irritated after a few of them, and yes I­ have ssen him playing a couple of times. He was a fluke­ because there was no one except an aging Sampras, so­ good on him for taking advantage of that, but as soon­ as the game improved a bit he got the outcome of a­ lousy student who could not cheat in the exam. To dare­ think that he could win against Nadal is mind blowing.­ He should retire or play tournaments like Casablanca­ Open or Auckland Open.

    From Half A Brain, on Fri 29 May 7:51AM

  17. as usual the voice of reason, nice one rhymes dito­ carlos. some great matches coming up, i think the­ competition really hots up now to get in the 4th round,­ in nadals side, almagro/verdasco, davydenko/wawrinka,­ murray tipsarevic that should be a real cracker and of­ course ferrer soederling. in feds side i tend to agree­ that its the easier draw but looking forward to see how­ delpo progresses, gonzales ooana should be a cracker­ and am hoping mathieu makes a good showing against fed,­ mathieu often does well on the big occasion and of­ course we have all the other french who should make up­ for exciting matches especially with the partisan crowd­ (tsonga looked hot yesterday). and we musnt forget­ radek could he go far this year with his creativ game,­ its going to be super interesting to see who makes it­ into the quarters cant wait for the best week of the­ year. all the best.

    From ralph, on Fri 29 May 5:41AM

  18. Such a big mouth Hewitt has! No wonder he isn't­ popular in his home country.
    Yes Federer would like­ Nadal taken out...but dream on.
    As it is, Federer's­ got such an easy draw...I mean, who's next for him?­ Mathieu, tch..then Haas, pooh..then Monfils or Roddick?­ A walk in the park. Certainly not worth a GS playing­ like last night. Using Djoko's tactics, making­ Acasuso lose rhythm.
    Nadal's got a tough road ahead­ of him if he doesn't up his game. Verdasco is­ playing very well.
    I hope Djoko gives him some bagels­ for breakfast in the SF.

    From Hannibal Lecter_lives, on Fri 29 May 4:38AM

  19. im hoping rafa hoping for the best result we know is­ not an easy game for hewitt but still i dont lost hope­ tcr rafa

    From jhecks, on Fri 29 May 2:49AM

  20. Those with a half-decent memory will know that one of­ Rafa's toughest matches in his 4 RG victories was­ against Hewitt in 2006, when Hewitt had two points to­ break for 4-2 in the 3rd set. You don't need to­ know much about tennis to predict a Rafa win but­ I'm looking forward to this match because I know­ that Hewitt will be looking to attack and get into the­ court. Virtually impossible task, but at least you­ suspect that Hewitt won't be taking it lying down­ and that must surely be the starting point for anyone­ who hopes to take on Rafa here.

    Nice post Carlos. Good­ to have a breath of fresh air on these boards. Take­ care

    From rhymes450, on Fri 29 May 12:02AM
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