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Darren Cahill believes Lleyton Hewitt can break back into the world’s top 10, and what better place to start his run than in the first round at Wimbledon on Tuesday.
The highly sought after coach said his fellow South Australian had been making encouraging inroads as he works his way back up the rankings following hip surgery.
And while Cahill does not see the 2002 Wimbledon champion, now ranked No.56, returning to the top spot he held at that time, he is backing him to reach single figures again.
“I don’t think he’ll get back to one, I don’t think he would expect to get back to one,” Cahill told AAP.
“The top four guys are playing a different level of game now and physically also you’ve got to play week-in week-out at such a high level.
“The way he plays, I don’t think physically his body could stand up to it, but I certainly believe there’s a big opportunity for Lleyton between five and 25.
“All those players are very, very closely packed and if Lleyton was to put together a good six months of tennis, there’s no question he could find himself anywhere amongst that group.”
A clay court title in Houston in April and a gallant defeat at the hands of Andy Roddick at Queen’s preceded a win over an injured Rafael Nadal during a hard-fought exhibition match last week.
And with a 5-0 win-loss record against Wimbledon first round opponent Robby Ginepri of the United States, a second-round clash against Argentine No.5 seed Juan Martin del Potro looms.
“I think most of the players would think Lleyton would give del Potro a real run for his money, so I’m quietly confident he will have a good tournament,” Cahill told AAP.
“He just needs one of those results to turn it around.
“He’s lost to a lot of the good guys in tight matches lately. If he can knock off one of the top-10 guys and gain that confidence, get on a roll, I think you’ll see that happen on a regular basis.”
Hewitt shrugged off an injury scare and moved freely during practice for his 11th Wimbledon campaign on Sunday.
The 28-year-old lost his footing during practice on Saturday and remained on the ground for some time, clearly in discomfort.
When he stood up, he clutched at his hip, but then continued to train apparently unhindered for about another half hour.
Hewitt was also not bothered by a change in schedule which meant his first round match was put back a day.
After Nadal’s withdrawal, organisers decided five-time champion and 2008 runner-up Roger Federer would play the first Centre Court match on Monday.
That meant the top half of the draw, including Hewitt and British No.3 seed Andy Murray, were set to play the following day.
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