US Open, DAY 13

Gritty Hewitt tries to take down great Federer
Summer's two hottest player face off in NY

By Matthew Cronin, TennisReporters.net

Art Seitz

Roger Federer celebrates his visit to the US Open finals.

FROM THE US OPEN – Lleyton Hewitt doesn't have the flair of Roger Federer, the power of Andy Roddick or popularity of Andre Agassi. But what he does have is a never-ending commitment to keep proving himself against and again on the big stage.

On Sunday, he'll get his third shot of the year at Federer in a Grand Slam. This time, it will be in the US Open final. Hewitt once owned Federer, but now has lost his last three matches to him, including in the fourth round of the Australian Open and quarterfinals of Wimbledon. The Adelaide, Australia native has played brilliantly in New York, the locale where he won his first Grand Slam tile in 2001, but few believe that he's the world's best anymore. He aims to prove that he can be that man again.

"Those two matches I felt like I played extremely well," Hewitt said of Melbourne and London. "I was probably a little unlucky that I drew Roger in the earlier rounds. I knew I was not far off the mark. I like playing in the US Open. I think the conditions, the atmosphere really suits me. The court surface suits my game. I feel confident, coming in, having winning a lot of matches. … Playing Roger, with the way his ranking is, his form at the moment, going for his third Slam of the year, it makes it into a huge match."

After a two-year stint at No.1 in 2001 and 2002, the gritty son of an intense Aussie Rules footballer could have slipped out of the top 5 and never have be heard form in a big way at the majors again. Few would criticized him for it, not when he's 5-foot-11 and 157 pounds – a Lilliputian in a land of immense and stronger giants.

Many players would be content with two Grand Slams titles and leading their court to a Davis Cup title. Hewitt could have settled into a nice routine with women's star and wife-to-be Kim Clijsters, earning a million a year, racking up smaller crowns. But then feisty Hewitt would be a different person. Federer has surpassed this year and that's something that eats at him.

"I'm obviously very competitive and love getting out there an trying to improve my game as well," Hewitt said. "Roger has tried to take the game to another level. You've got to keep working on your weaknesses and try and improve those to stay with the best guys and stay at the top of the game."

GREAT SHAPE MEANS HE'S PUNISHING OPPONENTS
The 23-year-old Hewitt's fitness is much improved, which is why he's been able to play for four weeks running, a period where he's won 16 straight matches on hard courts and the titles in Washington and Long Island. But none of his wins have come against A-plus level opponents. His last two victories at the US Open have over Tommy Haas – who had no clue how to play in the wind – and Joachim Johannson, who took a long bow to his future brother-in-law (the Swede’s long-time girlfriend is Lleyton's sister, Jaslyn). Give credit to Hewitt for beating the men who were put in front of him, but had he taken down Andy Roddick in the semifinals instead of Johannson, the world would like his chances a whole lot better against Federer. Tim Henman, who Federer cut up in the semis, says the Swiss is 'absolutely phenomenal' and dared to compare him to all-time great Pete Sampras.

"Playing Haas and Johansson is a little different to Federer who's been out there and won Grand Slams," Hewitt said. "But sometimes you can only do as much as your opponent lets you do."

Hewitt is smart not to focus too heavily on his recent losses to Federer and think back to last September, when he came from two sets down to topple the Swiss in a brilliant five-setter in Davis Cup. But he knows that since then, Federer has been the clutch performer, while he’s been unable to get his game out of third gear at the majors.
"I could have been up a set and a break at Melbourne. Wimbledon, I was broken the end of the fourth set and wasn't able to consolidate that break and take it to a fifth set," Hewitt said. "That's what you have to do against the best guys in the world. There's only a couple of big points within a match. Whether that's going to be the same case tomorrow, whether it's only two or three points to change the outcome of the a match, but you've got to be able to step on those points and play the points well."

Susan Mullane/Camerawork USA

Lleyton Hewitt runs his way into the finals.

FEDERER HAS LOSING RECORD v. Lleyton
Federer knows just how tough Hewitt is and is quite conscious of his 5-8 record against him. Prior to last year, he admits he wasn't mentally or physically fit enough to hang with him. The Swiss may have every shot ever invented, but Hewitt will be more than content counter punching them back until Federer grows weary of grinding with them.
"He's had a very consistent base since he was 17 years old," Federer said. "He's been the same player, but he's gotten stronger, more experienced. He knows how to win this tournament, so it's going to be difficult. He's been in the US Open finals; me, never.

I want to say I'm the huge favorite, but I think it's quite even. I'm always surprised how well his defense is because it's probably the best in the world. I don't want him to put me left and right, for five hours. I'll try to avoid that.'"
On Sunday, Federer will be chasing a record. He'll be attempting to become the first man since Mats Wilander in 1988 to win three Slams in a year and the first guy to win his first four Grand Slam finals. He's thinking about it, which might make him vulnerable to Hewitt's suffocating attack. "There's a lot on the line for me," Federer said. "I hope I can cope with all those things. Plus there's a very tough opponent."

There's not nearly as much pressure on Hewitt, who has been happily flying under the radar. Last year, that wasn't the case as he was an angry number one with a big target on his chest. By the 2003 US Open, he was worn down. This time he's fresh and ready to fight."

"Obviously, playing Roger, I'm going to have to play some great tennis to get on top of him," Hewitt said. "But I feel like I'm playing well at the moment and I give myself a good chance."