AUSTRALIANS AT THE US OPEN – HEWITT ADVANCES; KOKKINAKIS STUMBLES ON DAY TWO

Written by: Staff on 2nd September 2015

AUSTRALIANS AT THE US OPEN - HEWITT ADVANCES; KOKKINAKIS STUMBLES ON DAY TWO |

Lleyton Hewitt needed just one hour and 38 minutes to advance to the US Open second round on Tuesday, after Aleksandr Nedovyesov retired down 6-0, 7-6(2), 1-0 with a right shoulder injury. The Aussie, who improved to 47-13 at the US Open – his most successful Grand Slam event – toppled Pete Sampras for the 2001 title at the ripe age of 20. Fourteen years later, he reflected on his most greatest moment.

“Beating probably the greatest at the time, Pete Sampras, in the final, in his home Grand Slam,” Hewitt recalled. “In the semi-final and final I felt invincible out there. Didn’t feel like I could miss a ball.

“Pete hadn’t dropped serve for something ridiculous going into the final. I remember sitting right here, everyone saying, You can’t beat him, you can’t break his serve. I just tried and I broke him first game. That gave me a lot of confidence. I remember walking out for the final, Pete Sampras is out there at the coin toss. Ivan Lendl is actually doing the coin toss. These are two guys I grew up idolising going to the Australian Open every year.

“For me it was a surreal feeling, but it gave me confidence for the rest of my career going out there and being able to play well in those situations and not be in awe of the situation.”

While Hewitt has been the flag bearer for Australian tennis over the past decade, there is a group of young Aussies looking to grab the mantle. Thanasi Kokkinakis was not as fortunate, retiring down 4-6, 6-1, 4-6, 6-3, 2-0 against Richard Gasquet. The 19 year old, who suffered from severe cramps in his forearm and legs during the fourth set, was forced to serve underhand due to his extreme physical ailment.

“It’s just frustrating because I started playing good tennis,” said Kokkinakis. “I was getting fired up. At 1-all, 30/0 in the fourth set, I was bouncing the ball. Then, immediately I started to feel my forearm go. I’m like, ‘oh no, this is bad’. This was torturous for everyone watching.

“I didn’t feel tired physically either, which is the most frustrating thing about it. I actually felt all right. My energy levels were good and then I went up to hit a swing and volley or something and both my calves went. It was just disaster.”

Kokkinakis is one of 10 teens in the main draw, but only two – Hyeon Chung and Yoshihito Nishioka – escaped the first round. The World No. 71 suffered a similar fate of cramps in last year’s US Open qualifying, falling to Nishioka after holding a break lead in the deciding set. He looked back on what could have been done differently to avoid the situation.

“There’s always ways,” Kokkinakis added. “I need to look into what I need to do to reduce it next time. Maybe I should have hydrated earlier. I’m not sure. I wish there was a crystal ball that I knew what would do it. Would have been one of the biggest wins of my career.”

Three Aussies remain in New York, as Sam Groth looks to upset 26th seed Tommy Robredo in the second round, while Hewitt clashes against Bernard Tomic.

( Courtesy of the ATP and Original Link – http://www.atpworldtour.com/en/news/us-open-2015-hewitt-reflects-on-us-open-memories )

Topics: 10sballs.com, 2015 U.S. Open, Atp World Tour, Flushing Meadows, Lleyton Hewitt, New York, Tennis News, Thanasi Kokkinakis, US Open

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10sBalls_com says:

September 2, 2015 at 8:02 am

AUSTRALIANS AT THE #USOpen – @lleytonhewitt ADVANCES; @TKokkinakis STUMBLES ON DAY TWO- http://t.co/xu2iBwjL3u #tennis #USOpen2015 #ATP