Tennis: Hewitt loses in straight sets in 'spastics' row

SYDNEY - Rising tennis star Lleyton Hewitt's love-hate relationship with the Australian public continues to simmer after his exit from the quarter-finals of the French Open yesterday.

It was not a good day for the fiery world No 5.

He lost to Spaniard Juan Carlos Ferrero and was then criticised for his on-court behaviour by the disabled community and the media in Australia.

Hewitt, aged 20, was fined $US1000 ($2415) for twice referring to tennis officials as "spastics" in matches earlier in the tournament.

The term spastic refers to the spasticity, or rigidity of muscles. People with cerebral palsy may experience problems with communication, mobility or muscle control.

Courtside microphones picked up Hewitt calling the net cord judge a spastic in his opening round match and he used the same reference to the umpire in the fourth round.

After that incident he denied using the term but issued a stifled apology after yesterday's loss.

"When I was out there in the heat of the battle, I didn't realise I said it," Hewitt said.

"If I did say it, it's something I'm not proud of, that's for sure. I apologise to whoever it may be. I didn't want to offend anyone, that's for sure."

The Spastic Centre of Australia called on Hewitt to visit one of its centres to see what people with cerebral palsy could do.

"It's a great shame that having spasticity, which is one of the major conditions associated with having cerebral palsy, should be used in such a derogatory way," said Rob White, the centre's chief executive.

Comedian Steady Eddie and Paralympic gold medallist Priya Cooper, who both have cerebral palsy, told the Daily Telegraph newspaper that Hewitt's behaviour was poor form. They said the term was rarely heard and, if used, it was usually in a light-hearted sense.

"He's made it [the term] derogatory again," Cooper said. "It's sad he used it to insinuate the umpire had some sort of mental impairment because of the decision he made. Cerebral palsy doesn't affect your intellect."

In the same newspaper, veteran sports commentator Mike Gibson said sport was an area of life that sparked enthusiasm from many disabled people.

"I cannot recall a more appalling series of outbursts from an Australian sportsman," Gibson wrote. "Hey, what am I doing calling this jerk a sportsman? Anyone who refers to someone as a spastic isn't worthy of the term."

Hewitt has been one of the most consistent players in the world over the last 18 months and produced several heroic performances for Australia in the Davis Cup. His talent has earned him a big contract with sportswear company Nike.

However, the good has mixed with the bad. Two years ago he referred to fans in his home city Adelaide as "ignorant" at a tournament there. He has often ruffled the feathers of fans and fellow players.

Former Davis Cup captain John Newcombe accused the Australian public of continued "Lleyton bashing" after the French Open incident.

"It was a 60-second flare-up and for the other four hours he didn't do anything, but again it's everybody jumping in for the chance to bash Lleyton," he said.

"Why wouldn't everybody be praising him and saying, 'He did this, and this was wrong, however, look what he did for the other three hours and 59 minutes'."

Newcombe's successor, Wally Masur, defended Hewitt, if not his tirades.

"It's hard in sport because we're always looking for the most competitive players who are usually the best but they have to be competitive and gentlemen. It's a paradox."

- NZPA