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.
PHOTO: AFP
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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