Todd Woodbridge kick-started an eventful third day at the Australian Open by declaring on Channel Seven Lleyton Hewitt shouldn’t play singles against the Czech Republic at Ostrava on March 6-8.
Woodbridge, doubles legend and a former Cup selector, gave his singles nod to Bernard Tomic and Nick Kyrgios, but would have Hewitt teaming with Sam Groth in the doubles.
The stunning statement overlooks Hewitt is by far the most successful Australian Davis Cupper, with a 40-14 singles record, and 14-4 in doubles. He has been the backbone while Australian tennis has been in the wilderness for most of his career.
The Czechs will be without Tomas Berdych, a huge bonus, but still have the veteran Radek Stepanek, Lucas Rosoi, and the promising 21-year-old Jiri Vesely
It would be even more stunning if Cup captain Pat Rafter agrees with Woodbridge. I can’t see that happening in a fit.
Hewitt goes in against Germany’s Benjamin Becker tonight on centre court in the second round at Melbourne Park, followed by Sam Stosur against American Coco Vanderweghe.
Success for Hewitt and heavy-hitting eighth seed Milos Raonic will be his likely third round opponent. For Stosur one of two Americans await – either Irina Falconi, ranked 111, or Madison Brengle (64).
Yesterday saw victories for Kyrgios, Groth, and Tomic, while Thanasi Kokkinakis, James Duckworth, Marinko Matosevic, and Jarmila Gajdosova departed.
Looking at the stats, how did Kyrgios beat the tallest player on the ATP tour – the 211cm Ivo Karlovic?
The Croat blasted 40 aces to 25, smacked 73 winners to 47, made 33 unforced errors to 13, and won 116 points overall to 113.
Yet Kyrgiois won 7-6 6-4 5-7 6-4 in 140 minutes of constant action, and meets 30-year-old Tunisian Malek Jaziri, ranked 75 in the world, who hasn’t been past the second round in his previous five Slam appearances.
The Groth and Tomic wins yesterday see them head-to-head tomorrow.
Groth, the owner of the world’s fastest server, set at 263kph in Pusan, South Korea in 2012, out-muscled compatriot teenager Kokkinakis 3-6 6-3 7-5 3-6 6-1 in just under three hours.
Groth’s fastest serve was 230 compared to Kokinakis’ 207, Groth served 26 aces to 14, struck 66 winners to 40, made 36 unforced errors to 28, and scored 133 points overallto 118.
There was nothing in the Tomic-Philipp Kohkschreiber clash – nothing at all.
In 185 minutes they struck 67 winners each, Tomic served 23 aces to 19, made 46 unforced erros to 40, and scored 158 points overall to 157.
Tomic will have to play a whole lot better to beat Groth next time round.
All three of the remaining Aussie vanquished ran into buzzsaws.
Matosevic, the Glenn Maxwell of Australian tennis, was bundled out 6-1 6-3 6-2 in 102 minutes by Andy Murray who scored 90 points overall to 56. It could have been worse with the Scot converting only seven of his 14 break points.
Duckworth ran into a red-hot Richard Gasquet to lose 6-2 6-3 7-5 in 116 minutes, as did Gajdosova in her 6-2 6-2 loss to third seed Simona Halep in just 67 minutes.
The escapes of the day were Maria Sharapova and Rafael Nadal.
Number two seed Sharapova went within a whisker of bowing out to compatriot Alexandra Panova, a qualifier ranked 150 in the world. Sharapova eventually won 6-1 4-6 7-5.
Nadal was down two sets to one to American Tim Smyczek, ranked 112 in the world, before winning 6-2 3-6 6-7 6-3 7-5 in nearly four hours.
Smyczek smacked 64 winners to 43 to have Nadal on the defensive, so much so Nadal only won 158 points overall to 153.
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