This was the mother of all Mondays at Wimbledon. Henin and Clijsters in the Battle of the Belge. Serena and Maria in their Battle of the squeal. And Lleyton Hewitt would be playing.
All six of the men’s top seeds in fourth round action. All three top seeds having had five setters in their last matches.
Every competitor at Wimbledon was still shaking their heads at the marathon 70-68 fifth set between Isner and Mahut. Even camels have been known to refuel earlier.
The match-up between Lleyton Hewitt and Novak Djokovic was epic. If this was a boxing match Djokovic had a height and reach advantage over Hewitt. Djokovic was a quarterfinalist in 2009 and the bookmaker’s favourite being seeded three here.
But Wimbledon is Hewitt’s favourite surface and he has recent form in beating Federer at Halle. Hewitt has been at least to the fourth round since 2004. He was champion in 2002.
Boris Becker would like Hewitt next to him in a bar room brawl. Hewitt is probably the best pound for pound fighter on the circuit.
Phar Lap had a heart one and a half times the size of a normal horse. This heart, weighing 6.35 kilos is on display at the National Museum in Canberra. One suspects Hewitt’s heart is as big.
Some say the American wonder horse Secretariat had a bigger heart but all the tennis experts are unanimous in endorsing Hewitt’s fighting qualities. The Queen, with her love of racehorses, would no doubt agree.
This match was relegated to Court Number 1 as Andy Murray tried to salvage England’s lost football pride on Centre Court. Djokovic, on the other hand, would be looking to exact some revenge for Serbia’s football loss to the Socceroos.
The task before Hewitt was enormous.
Beat Djokovic and set up a possible quarterfinal against Andy Roddick. Win that and a date with Federer. Finally he would have to beat Nadal, Soderling or Murray.
In effect all six seeds awaited him. A lesser man would simply have gone home.
Jarmila Groth had earlier lost to Venus Williams and Lleyton was now the last Aussie standing.
Hewitt would have been inspired if he had been watching. Jarmila played Venus as an equal. She is one feisty young lady. She lost in straight sets but had her chances, especially in the second where she twice served for the set.
Jarmila fought back from 0-4 down in the tiebreaker to be 4-4 and then at 5-5 double faulted to give Venus match point. Just a few line calls and the odd unforced error. Jarmila is top ten material on this showing and you heard it first on The Roar.
From the very first point Hewitt came out throwing a crosscourt jab and hustled right through the first set. It was even until 5-5 and then Djokovic broke and served out for 7-5.
The match was close, and our man was in the contest.
Djokovic was relying on his heavy first serve and Hewitt was returning well but not consistently well enough. One service break was enough for Djokovic to take the second 6-4.
Lleyton Hewitt loves a scrap. He broke Novak for 3-2 and consolidated to 4-2 by holding to 15. At 3-5 down Djokovic was struggling with Hewitt’s return of serve and down 0-40.
“C’mon”, said tennis’ Phar Lap and Hewitt broke again to take the set 6-3 and importantly would be serving first in the fourth.
Novak Djokovic carries Serbia’s hopes every time he steps on the court. Earlier Jankovic had retired hurt leaving him the only Serbian left in the singles.
He broke Hewitt in the first game of the fourth and the momentum had shifted once again. He built to 2-0 and had the chance to go 3-0 having Hewitt down a break point. Lleyton came again and held serve to stay in the match.
The fourth game of this fourth set was going to be crucial. Hewitt had to break back now.
Djokovic raced to 40-15 and it looked ominous for Hewitt. A deep return gave Hewitt a chance and then a Djokovic double fault gave him the lifeline. Hewitt was making Djokovic hit the extra ball and wearing down the Serb. Djokovic hits long and the Wimbledon air is pierced by a triple “C’MON!!”.
Hewitt consolidates with an easy hold and at 3-2 is in front. He has Djokovic double faulting and at deuce had the Serbian groggy. Hewitt pressed a fraction too much with the adrenalin pumping and missed the opportunity to break again.
At 3-3 this was becoming a dog-fight. Hewitt holds easily for 4-3 and the match hangs in the balance.
Djokovic serves an ace for 15-0. Hewitt scrambles the next point for 15-15. The Serb fires another big serve and puts away Hewitt’s half court offering for a 30-15 edge. Hewitt refuses to go away and it is 30-30. It goes to deuce and Djokovic barely survives this round.
Hewitt is serving at 4-4 and 30-0. Djokovic surges again and has break point. Hewitt double faults and Djokovic will serve for the match at 5-4. Three good serves and he holds three match points. Hewitt throws a half-hearted punch and it is all over.
Djokovic lets out a primal scream and raises his tired arms. He is delirious and a little punch drunk.
A warm embrace at the net follows and Hewitt walks off with a tired wave to the crowd. Djokovic screams some more and tears off his shirt and tosses it to the crowd. He has also proved he has a big heart and maybe one day there will be a horse he can call his own.
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