To the surprise of no one but to the chagrin of many, Lleyton Hewitt played the last match of his illustrious career on Thursday night at the Australian Open.
Going up against heavily-favored David Ferrer during second-round action, Hewitt lost 6-2, 6-4, 6-4 after two hours and 32 minutes. Ferrer served at 70 percent and fought off nine of 10 break points to make the scoreline arguably more lopsided than Hewitt deserved.
“He’s a top-quality; top-eight player at the moment,” Hewitt said of the eighth-ranked Spaniard. “He didn’t really give me a lot of opportunities out there tonight. All my service games were really hard to hold the whole time. The small opportunities I got on his, he didn’t give me any cheap points. But that’s why he’s had a long and successful career. He’s been awfully close to winning a major.”
In typical Hewitt fashion, however, the two-time Grand Slam champion did not go away without a fight. His only break of the night came when he trailed by two sets and a break midway through the third. Although the success was short-lived, it still sent the packed house in Rod Laver Arena into a frenzy.
“It was an unbelievable atmosphere out there,” Hewitt assured. “A couple of the roars during the match tonight was as loud as I’ve ever played in front of. I was getting goosebumps at times.”
“I tried play point by point and really focused every point, because I know Lleyton (will) fight until last ball,” Ferrer explained. “I know that.”
Highlights:
Hewitt press conference transcript
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Ferrer in four though Johnson could make things interesting.
He hasn’t called it a career just yet!! He and Groth took out 8 seeds Kontinen and Peers 2-6 6-4 6-4 and will play PopSocks in round three. AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE!!! CMON RUSTY!!!!!