When Lleyton Hewitt played in his first Australian Open, Ze Zhang was a nine-year-old in short pants going to school in Nanjing, China.
Last night at Rod Laver Arena, Hewitt celebrated a record 19th year at the Open with a 6-4, 1-6, 6-0, 6-4 win over Zhang to face Germany’s Benjamin Becker in the second round.
This was lion-hearted Lleyton at his best. His ordinary serve, 189 kilometres per hour at best to Zhang’s 215, and rare visits to the net, were overcome by making only 19 unforced errors in 140 minutes, but forcing Zhang to make 62.
Zhang’s a very dangerous player with a powerhouse forehand and backhand, who smacked 39 winners to 26. In the end, Hewitt won 116 points to 93. After losing the second set, he won nine straight games by bumping up the pressure.
How he keeps going and winning with so little ammunition to fire at opponents, except for his Phar Lap-sized heart, defies description.
Hewitt now holds the record for the most Australian Open appearances at 19, just ahead of the retired Fabrice Santoro’s 18, and the well and truly retired John Alexander’s 17.
Roger Federer’s playing in his 15th Australian Open, but the way Hewitt is playing, Switzerland’s favourite son will never catch the Australian.
Two more retired Australians – Mark Woodforde, and Phil Dent – also played in 15 Australian Opens, while there are six others who have played, or are playing in, their 14th – John Fitzgerald, Wayne Ferriera, Wally Masur, Richard Fromberg, Todd Woodbridge, and Mikhail Youzhny.
In overall appearances, both Hewitt and Federer could catch Santoro, who played in 70 Slams, with Andre Agassi the closest on 61. But Hewitt and Federer, both 33 years young, are closing in on 60 Slams. If they both play until the 2017 US Open, they will become the co-holders of the most appearances in Slam singles history. A staggering stat.
In the meantime, Australia’s future is on the rise, with seven Aussies on duty today.
Jarmila Gajdosova, who won her first round after a decade of missing out, takes on third seed Simona Halep on centre court tonight.
Marinka Matosevic meets sixth seed Andy Murray on the Margaret Court Arena this afternoon.
Bernard Tomic does battle with Philipp Kohlschrieber, whom he beat in straight sets in Sydney last week, on Margaret Court Arena tonight.
Two Aussies unfortunately clash on Hisense Arena this afternoon – Sam Groth and Thanasi Kokkinakis. There will be some heavy hitting in that match.
James Duckworth keeps flying under the radar, but he’ll give Frenchman Richard Gasquet a run for his money after taking him to five sets at Roland Garros last year, Gasquet’s home soil.
And Nick Kyrgios clashes with giant Croat Ivo Karlovic on Hisense this afternoon.
So plenty of Australian interest with the talent Lleyton Hewitt can keep a ‘fatherly’ eye on for the future. Provided he keeps playing.
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