Hewitt primed for success in 2011
Former world No.1 Lleyton Hewitt claims he has trained harder than anyone else on the circuit over the past two months as he embarks on yet another comeback from injury.
Former world No.1 Lleyton Hewitt claims he has trained harder than anyone else on the circuit over the past two months as he embarks on yet another comeback from injury.
Hewitt’s 2010 campaign was brought to an early end in September when he seriously injured his right hand in Australia’s Davis Cup loss to Belgium in Cairns.
The 29-year-old also underwent surgery on his hip and knee earlier in the year, capping a frustrating period in his career after also battling a serious hip complaint in 2009.
But after a rigorous two months on the training track, Hewitt says he is finally injury free and the fittest he has been for years ahead of the January 1-8 Hopman Cup in Perth, where he will team with Alicia Molik.
“I’ve had no interruptions,” Hewitt said of his pre-season.
“I’ve been (training) at least six days a week, sometimes seven days a week, going as hard as I can.
“Personally I don’t feel there’s probably anybody else out there who has trained as hard as I have for the last two months.
“I still do a lot of the sand hills, stair work, agility stuff, sprints – there’s been a whole range of different stuff.
“(Also) a lot of AFL kind of drills as well this year. But I feel like I’ve been able to mix it up really well.
“The last week and a half I’ve been able to taper off and do a lot more quick, reaction stuff.
“It isn’t quite as grinding on your body physically and mentally but believe me, the first five, six weeks were bloody tough.”
Despite battling injury this year, Hewitt showed he could still match it with the best, beating Roger Federer in the final at Halle before reaching the round of 16 at Wimbledon.
Hewitt, winner of the 2001 US Open and 2002 Wimbledon, believed his recent run of injuries were merely a case of bad luck and said he was primed for a successful 2011 campaign, despite his ranking slipping to 54.
“It (the main goal) is always the grand slams, the ranking takes care of itself,” he said.
“I still think I can get better.
“As long as the motivation’s there and I want to go out there and compete and become a better player then I’ll do it until that’s not there anymore I guess.”
And with coach Tony Roche again by his side, Hewitt said there were still a few tricks left up his sleeve.
“We get along extremely well,” Hewitt said of Roche.
“Every time we get on the practice court there’s a purpose, I don’t think we spend one minute on the practice court going through the motions.
“He’s a tough taskmaster but I think he’s bringing out the best in my game.
“Even some of my strengths … (he is) trying to use those to another level and add another dimension to my game.
“It’s never going to come together overnight … but I feel like he’s the right person to be in my corner.”
Hewitt will face off against Belgium’s Rubens Bemelmans on Saturday, with Molik to take on former world No.1 Justine Henin.