Hewitt is Playing Like the Hewitt of Old

Written by: Staff on 14th January 2013

Tennis Australian Open 2013 - Press conference

Hewitt is Playing Like the Hewitt of Old

epa03533079 Lleyton Hewitt of Australia speaks to the media during a press conference at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia, 12 Jananuary 2013. Players have arrived in Melbourne for the Australian Open Tennis Tournament which commences on 14 January 2013. EPA/JOE CASTRO AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT |

Lleyton Hewitt showed vintage form as he humbled Juan Martin Del Potro 6-1, 6-4 to win the Kooyong Classic in Melbourne. And the battling Aussie is hoping to carry that form into his opening match at the Australian Open against ailing seed Janko Tipsarevic.

The former No. 1 and two-time Grand Slam winner a decade ago, completed victories over three top 15 opponents at the eight-man special event at Kooyong, former home of the Open.

Hewitt’s current game belies his 82nd ranking, with the veteran hopeful of doing major damage as he begins play at his home major. “Janko is a tough first round – but there are not too many easy first rounds out there,” said Hewitt. “He’s a quality player who has improved a lot in the past two years.

“It’s nice to know I’ve done all the right preparation, I can just go out there and play,” said the battler who is a year removed from a second foot surgery which finally cured a lingering problems which had forced him to play in pain.

“I felt sharp, moved well. It was a good start out there. I’m not surprised at how well I’m playing. I’ve been training and hitting well and I’m playing as cleanly as I have in a long time.”

©Daily Tennis News Wire

Topics: Australian tennis news, Janko Tipsarevic, Juan Martin Del Potro, Lleyton Hewitt, Sports, Tennis, Tennis News