ATP TENNIS NEWS FROM THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN – LLEYTON HEWITT LOSES TO DAVID FERRER IN STRAIGHT SETS AND RETIRED AS A SINGLES PLAYER

Written by: Staff on 21st January 2016

ATP TENNIS NEWS FROM THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN - LLEYTON HEWITT LOSES TO DAVID FERRER IN STRAIGHT SETS AND RETIRED AS A SINGLES PLAYER

epa05115688 Lleyton Hewitt of Australia serves the ball to David Ferrer of Spain during their second round match at the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 21 January 2016. EPA/JULIAN SMITH AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT |

The scene was (once more) set to bid a country’s hero goodbye. The cheering squad were there, enthusiastic as always, our hero swathed within the colours of the national flag (no it is NOT green and gold, nor is it carried by a kangaroo).

17-shot rallies in the opening salvoes and we knew we were not in for a swift end to a long career, as Lleyton Hewitt took on eighth seed David Ferrer in the second round.

Some tidbits to entertain:

-Hewitt is the only Aussie to have defeated Ferrer in a Grand Slam, beating him in Wimbledon, 2006
-Ferrer has only ever lost to a low-ranked player (such as the #308 Hewitt) when he lost to Thomas Blake (316) in Tokyo, 2002.
-Ferrer has never lost to a wildcard in a Slam, and has a 6-0 win-loss record against them at the Slams. His most recent? Hewitt at the 2012 US Open!

The first blood went to the Spaniard, muting the crowd somewhat, adding to their unease (not to mention some unease of Hewitt’s own as he called for a trainer to give his leg a bit of a deep tissue going-over!) as he rounded out the first set 6-2.

Hewitt found himself fending off more break points at the start of the second set before succumbing to another break – suddenly the script was looking more ominous – there was not going to be a sequel to this story?

Yet you can’t keep a good “Rusty” down. Chipping away at the determined Ferrer, Hewitt twitched, and fist-pumped and furrowed his way to seven break points on the Spaniard’s game, but yet the tennis gods refused to smile on their favourite Aussie son, as Ferrer remained an obstinate break ahead for the second set.

Tennis fans watch the first round match between Australia’s James Duckworth and Lleyton Hewitt at the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 19 January 2016. EPA/DAVID CROSLING

More treatment on his tired little legs, and the strain was beginning to tell on his watching family, and perhaps even a hint of misty-ness in the old Hewitt eyes as he looked around.

Perhaps not moving as sprightly as he was at the start, an early break for Ferrer seemed to dim the lights on his career. Ha! You have to love those tennis gods. Hewitt broke to level at 3-3 in the third.

The enormity of the situation was beginning to weigh on Hewitt – a second foot fault elicited a bit of a mouthful at umpire Pascal Maria as Ferrer closed in on a straight sets victory a with another break. The guy can run like Hewitt, and has no place for sentimentality.

As he closed out the match 6-2 6-4 6-4, Ferrer sat, choosing not to take the plaudits from the crowd, instead giving the moment to the Aussie. Even in his own interview, Ferrer looked emotional enough, saying ‘tonight is the day for him, not for me.’

David Ferrer (L) of Spain is congratulated by Lleyton Hewitt (R) of Australia after winning their second round match at the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 21 January 2016. EPA/JULIAN SMITH

There were tears… especially when they ran that montage. Hewitt had kept it together but was visibly moved even before the kids came out.

Hewitt’s final words were to the crowd – and we lost count of the times the word ‘mate’ was used – and the words on the door as Hewitt walked down the Rod Laver Area corridors summed it all up in just two words – Thanks Mate.

Lleyton Hewitt (L) of Australia is surrounded by his kids (L-R) Mia, Ava, and Cruz after losing to David Ferrer of Spain in their second round match at the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 21 January 2016. EPA/TRACEY NEARMY

Topics: 10sballs.com, 2016 Australian Open, Atp World Tour, Aussie Warrior, Australian Tennis, David Ferrer, Lleyton Hewitt, Melbourne, Sports, Tennis, Tennis News