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Hewitt to rely on never-say-die spirit at Aussie Open

Lleyton Hewitt of Australia makes a back-hand return during a practice session in the lead-up to the Australian Open in Melbourne yesterday. PHOTO: AFP

LLeyton Hewitt is trusting in his famed mental toughness to get him through a testing first week at the Australian Open starting tomorrow.

Hewitt, a runner-up to Russian Marat Safin two years ago, is seeded 19 this year and has had a troubled lead-in to the Australian Open, suffering a torn calf muscle and splitting with his coach Roger Rasheed.

The feisty Australian, who finished last year ranked 20, his lowest position since 1999, has a qualifier in the first round and a possible second round match against either Canadian Frank Dancevic or Romanian Victor Hanescu.

Hewitt said he was "90 percent" over the calf muscle injury that forced him out of the lead-up Sydney International tournament, and was getting himself mentally ready to play his way into the tournament.

"If I put myself in the right frame of mind going out there, that never-say-die attitude, especially what got me to the final two years ago, I think that's one of my assets," Hewitt said yesterday. "I can't have a much tougher draw than I had a couple of years ago here. I know what it's going to take to come through a couple of big matches. I'd like to think it'll come through again."

Hewitt has replaced Rasheed with close friend and former Davis Cup team-mate Scott Draper to help him through the Grand Slam.

"I think I'm as mentally ready now as I can be. In practice, I've been hitting the ball well. It's a matter of going out there and executing," Hewitt said.

This will be 25-year-old Hewitt's 11th crack at the Australian Open, last won by a home player, Mark Edmondson, in 1976.

"The first couple of matches, they're not going to be easy. It's a matter of trying to get through those as quickly and convincingly as possible," Hewitt said. "I love the Australian Open. I love playing here. I get goosebumps walking into this place."

"This is great memories for me, not only coming here as a young kid matching Ivan Lendl and Stefan Edberg and Mats Wilander and all these guys, but making the final two years ago, even though I lost, was a huge occasion for me and one of great pleasure and great memory," he added.
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