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Davis
Cup FINAL: DAY 1
Hewitt, Moya come up huge; tie locked
at 1-1
By Eleanor Preston
Special to tennisreporters.net
Siggi Bucher |
FROM THE DAVIS CUP IN MELBOURNE
– No one in their right mind would ever accuse Lleyton Hewitt
of taking life easy, not in his pressure-packed, long preparation
for this weekend's Davis Cup final nor in his spectacular 3-6,
6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (0), 6-2 over Juan Carlos Ferrero in the opening
match.
But Hewitt’s fire and sure-handed play didn’t transfer
over to his teammate Mark Philippoussis, who fell 6-4, 6-4, 4-6,
7-6 to now Davis Cup clutch performer Carlos Moya.
"The Australians are favorites, but we are happy with that,"
Spanish captain Jordi Arrese said. "Our players are highly
motivated to take the trophy home."
So are the Aussies and former No. 1 Hewitt, who is basing the
quality of his year on his play this weekend. Most players –
with the exception of the mercurial Andre Agassi – like
to warm up for major events with as many matches as possible.
But partly through choice and partly because of a minor foot injury,
Hewitt must play two of the biggest matches of his career, having
not played since September.
Ferrero, the Spanish No. 1, has played 87 matches this year to
Hewitt's 47, and though world No.3 may be feeling weary as a result,
he was not slow to point out before the match that Hewitt risks
being a little underdone. "It's been two months since he
played (against Roger Federer in the September's Davis Cup semi-finals)
and all of sudden, to be playing in front of the public and so
on, it's going to be a little bit strange for him."
Ferrero's comments may not have been intentionally mischievous
but they formed part in a series of remarks from both sides in
the run-up, all of which have given the tie extra spice.
Hewitt has made in clear that, since his foot required surgery
(to have a wart removed), it would have been folly to have flown
11,000 miles around the world to compete in only one tournament
and then return in time for the Davis Cup final. At least on Friday,
Hewitt’s gamble paid off.
A solid Ferrero – who had taken down Hewitt in the US Open
quarterfinals – jumped out to a two sets to one lead, but
like he has down so many times in his career, the snarling Aussie
dug deep. Even though he failed to serve the fourth set out at
5-4, former Wimbledon champ Hewitt was more sure-footed and confident
on the grass when things got tight.
With on-court temperatures topping 100 degrees, the time off Hewitt
took building up a more muscular physique and the dozens of hours
of road work he put in at home in Adelaide and at Melbourne's
Kooyong Club paid off. "It was hard work out there in tough
conditions," Hewitt said. "My thoughts and training
for the last eight weeks have all been on this match and trying
to get Australia off to a great start."
MOYA RESURFACES ON GRASS
Susan Mullane/
Camerawork USA |
But Wimbledon finalist Philippoussis
couldn’t build the fort up, as Moya returned with confidence
and served extremely well. It was an extraordinary victory for
the former No. 1, who hadn’t played on turf since June 2002.
"The key was that I was more relaxed," Moya said. "I
responded well to his service and maybe partly as a result of
he made more errors."
Apparently, Moya was charged-up due to comments made by former
Australian captain John Newcombe, who had said he expected Philippoussis
to win. "Things like that are motivating," Moya said.
"It is interesting when you hear comments like that coming
form someone like Newcombe who has been a top player. Comments
like that can be interpreted as put downs but hearing comments
from people in the tennis world is motivating. But I have stayed
focused. I knew that I was going to play well, win or lose, and
I did play well."
Saturday’s doubles contest between Todd Woodbridge/Wayne
Arthurs and Alex Corretja/Feliciano Lopez looms large for both
squads.
A depressed Philippoussis said that when he faces Ferrero on Sunday
that he won’t be as careless. "I have no doubt that when
it comes Sunday, I am going to be a different player out there,"
he said. |
