Bluey
29-06-2009, 07:09 PM
Lleyton Hewitt powers to third straight sets win at Wimbledon. Lleyton Hewitt vowed to smash his way back into the world top 20 after cruising into the second week of Wimbledon for the sixth year in a row.
Hewitt takes on injured Radek Stepanek tonight for a likely quarter final against Andy Roddick.
And while he said the Czech would be a tough opponent, his motivation for a last eight berth is high.
"When I look at the guys in the top five, top 10 in the world, I still feel like I'm good enough to be up there," Hewitt said after demolishing German Philipp Petzschner 7-5 7-6 (7-3) 6-3.
"I still feel like I'm good enough to be up there. I think that's probably the motivation."
Hewitt, ranked 56, said he was focusing on the grand slams more than anything else. If he did well at Wimbledon and the other three majors, the ranking would take care of itself.
"Obviously I'd like to get back in the top 20 as soon as possible," he said.
Struggling with a hip injury last year and forced to have surgery and a lengthy rehabilitation, Hewitt dropped out of the top 100 for the first time in a decade.
But it was the Hewitt of old, or at least 2002, when he won the Wimbledon final, who took to court two against Petzschner.
The pair played point for point, game for game until late in the first set when Hewitt broke. The second set was much the same but went to a tiebreak, where Hewitt's grand slam experience shone.
Petzschner, at Wimbledon for the second time, castigated himself at each unforced error. Hewitt got on with the job and won the tiebreak 7-3.
The third set was academic, despite flashes of brilliance and blistering aces from the German.
Hewitt said not dropping a set in his first three rounds would help his energy levels for the second week.
"I feel confident my body can hold up," he said.
"It's not easy to reach the fourth round for a sixth year in a row, but a grand slam isn't won in the first three rounds.
"It's all about finding a way through the first week. The draw opens up and you never know what might happen."
Stepanek, the 23rd seed, is an all court player with a solid baseline game.
He struggled through in five sets against Spaniard David Ferrer yesterday, winning 7-5 7-5 3-6 4-6 6-4.
The Czech is being troubled by a knee injury and has flown a doctor from Prague to examine him.
"If you're not 100 per cent fit, then (Hewitt) is gonna make you run like a horse," Stepanek said
"I'd rather try to do everything possible to be 100 per cent ready for the match.
"Lleyton is playing great tennis right now, especially here in Wimbledon. He won it here, so definitely he's got his best experiences."
Hewitt takes on injured Radek Stepanek tonight for a likely quarter final against Andy Roddick.
And while he said the Czech would be a tough opponent, his motivation for a last eight berth is high.
"When I look at the guys in the top five, top 10 in the world, I still feel like I'm good enough to be up there," Hewitt said after demolishing German Philipp Petzschner 7-5 7-6 (7-3) 6-3.
"I still feel like I'm good enough to be up there. I think that's probably the motivation."
Hewitt, ranked 56, said he was focusing on the grand slams more than anything else. If he did well at Wimbledon and the other three majors, the ranking would take care of itself.
"Obviously I'd like to get back in the top 20 as soon as possible," he said.
Struggling with a hip injury last year and forced to have surgery and a lengthy rehabilitation, Hewitt dropped out of the top 100 for the first time in a decade.
But it was the Hewitt of old, or at least 2002, when he won the Wimbledon final, who took to court two against Petzschner.
The pair played point for point, game for game until late in the first set when Hewitt broke. The second set was much the same but went to a tiebreak, where Hewitt's grand slam experience shone.
Petzschner, at Wimbledon for the second time, castigated himself at each unforced error. Hewitt got on with the job and won the tiebreak 7-3.
The third set was academic, despite flashes of brilliance and blistering aces from the German.
Hewitt said not dropping a set in his first three rounds would help his energy levels for the second week.
"I feel confident my body can hold up," he said.
"It's not easy to reach the fourth round for a sixth year in a row, but a grand slam isn't won in the first three rounds.
"It's all about finding a way through the first week. The draw opens up and you never know what might happen."
Stepanek, the 23rd seed, is an all court player with a solid baseline game.
He struggled through in five sets against Spaniard David Ferrer yesterday, winning 7-5 7-5 3-6 4-6 6-4.
The Czech is being troubled by a knee injury and has flown a doctor from Prague to examine him.
"If you're not 100 per cent fit, then (Hewitt) is gonna make you run like a horse," Stepanek said
"I'd rather try to do everything possible to be 100 per cent ready for the match.
"Lleyton is playing great tennis right now, especially here in Wimbledon. He won it here, so definitely he's got his best experiences."