Tennis: It's been a victory of the mind says Hewitt

By JOHN ROBERTS

Lleyton Hewitt took his dancing feet to 42nd Street yesterday for a lunch at the Australian Consulate to celebrate his triumph at the United States Open.

Little more than a week earlier, the 20-year-old from Adelaide had seemed in danger of seeking refuge there after comments he made concerning the removal of an African-American linesman.

Protesting his innocence, Hewitt was given the benefit of the doubt. He responded with brilliant displays of fleet-footed, counter-punching tennis, and ended up making the great Pete Sampras look like Methuselah.

As the arrival of new Grand Slam champions go, Hewitt's dismantling of Sampras, 7-6 (7-4), 6-1, 6-1, while not as spectacular as the Russian Marat Safin's blitzing of Sampras in straight-sets in last year's final at Flushing Meadows, may prove to be of greater long-term significance.

When Sampras played Safin, the Californian was a Wimbledon champion in search of motivation, having set a record of 13 major singles titles.

When Sampras played Hewitt, the 30-year-old American was trying to win his first tournament since defeating Pat Rafter at Wimbledon 14 months ago.

His confidence had been restored after impressive victories against Rafter, Andre Agassi and Safin en route to the final, and his serve had not been broken in 87 games.

But he no longer had the legs to contend with an opponent 10 years his junior who was playing like Agassi at his best.

Afterwards, as Hewitt spoke eagerly of returning to Australia to prepare for the Davis Cup semifinal against Sweden in Sydney, Sampras tried to console himself by recounting his form against Rafter, Agassi, and Safin.

Those victories, he said, had shown him that he was still capable of winning Grand Slam tournaments.

"You realise guys are getting better, younger, faster. You just have to match that. I look forward to coming back for many years."

He added, however, that he would review his schedule of tournaments for the rest of the season.

Some of Hewitt's highest praise came from his girlfriend of 18 months, Belgian tennis star Kim Clijsters, who felt the pain of losing her first Grand Slam final at this year's French Open.

"It surprised me that he didn't appear nervous, that he was focused right to the end," she said.

"But it's what he's been building up to for the year. He's known for a year that he's good enough to win a Grand Slam."

In contrast to many of the leading players nowadays, Hewitt is no giant at 1.80m (5ft 11in) , but packs lots of aggression into his lean, wiry frame, often to the annoyance of opponents.

What he showed here, in addition to the quality of his play, was an ability to keep his head when those around him were calling for it.

The incident involving the linesman during his second round match against African-American James Blake might have had serious repercussions had it not been accepted as a misunderstanding.

The way Hewitt responded, by putting the controversy out of his mind and concentrating on his game, was encouraging.

"You've got to go through some rough times to become a better person and a better player, on and off the court," he said. "Maybe I'll be stronger for it."

Glancing at the trophy in front of him, he added: "Maybe this is one of the signs of it. I really have to be proud of myself for the way I've done that under so much pressure.

"It really shows how mentally tough I've been over the past couple of days."

Hewitt is one of those sporting characters whose attitude attracts mixed feelings from spectators but are beloved of reporters, who need a sprinkling of spice to flavour their stories.

"I get pumped up on a court when I feel like it's necessary to get pumped up," he said. "The last three or four matches I haven't shown that much emotion out on the court, and I've had some of my biggest wins.

"I've had to learn how to play best-of-five-set matches, as well.

"When you get to the Grand Slams, you can waste energy if you get pumped up on the wrong points. That's something I've had to work on."

As to blocking out negative responses, he said: "I think it's something I've had to deal with growing in the juniors back home in Adelaide when I was playing older guys. I was No 1 in Australia a couple of years out of my age group. Everyone was out to beat you back then."

"I had to deal with those pressures. I've been able to take that. I've got stronger in the head as I've got older."

He may be older now, but there was a touching moment after the final when Hewitt looked like a small boy.

"I'm standing there about to hold up the trophy, and Pete's there holding up the runners-up plate. It just didn't quite click for me. If there's anyone you'd want to play if you were going to win a Grand Slam tournament, it would be Pete, one of the greatest players ever to live.

"Four years ago, I was here playing the juniors. No one was out there watching. No one could care less. Now I have the world's television cameras on me. And I still have the junior photo on the front of my badge here."

- INDEPENDENT