Lleyton Hewitt re-opened the debate surrounding his playing future after suffering one of the dirtiest days of his Davis Cup career.
The nation’s greatest Cup servant succumbed to German world No.127 Cedrik-Marcel Stebe 6-4 6-1 6-4 in a flat, error-filled performance in the deciding rubber in Hamburg.
Even one of his greatest fans, former Davis Cup captain John Fitzgerald wondered how much longer the former world No.1 would carry on.
“He’s like a worn-out warrior,” Fitzgerald said.
The 3-2 defeat on clay condemned Australia to the tennis equivalent of the boondocks, a sixth straight season in the second tier of Davis Cup.
That Australia let slip a 2-1 lead in a World Group playoff for a third straight year only added to the pain after Bernard Tomic was earlier wiped off the clay court by Florian Mayer.
Davis Cup captain Pat Rafter and Hewitt were shattered figures at their post-tie press conference at Rothenbaum Stadium.
The thought of fighting through regional qualifying one more time is hardly an appetising prospect.
Rafter admitted it had been a gamble to pick his great mate Hewitt with the scores locked at 2-2.
“I was a little worried after the doubles match how much energy Lleyton used out there,” Rafter said.
“It was a very intense doubles match and a must-win doubles match.
“It is very hard to come out and play singles the next day.
“But we had to roll the dice and the Germans are a very good team.
“We had to take chances somewhere along the line and unfortunately it bit us a bit.”
Asked about his future, Hewitt said his attention would turn to the Australian summer.
Understandably so.
He must want to delete his straight set losses to Mayer and Stebe from his memory so soon after his encouraging performances at the US Open.
The left-handed Stebe is Germany’s 11th-highest ranked singles player and was going to be dropped following Friday’s four-set defeat to Tomic.
Only an injury to Philipp Petzschner in Saturday’s doubles and Benjamin Becker’s horrible form in the middle rubber handed him the chance to be a national saviour.
Former Wimbledon and US Open champion Hewitt led 3-0 earlier in the match before tightening up and losing 11 of 12 games to Stebe, who enjoys clay better than any other surface.
Hewitt, 31, said he found it more difficult to back up these days.
“It does not get any easier,” he said.
clipper
Guest
There are many others reasons for the situation we are in, including the disappearance of courts to development, greedy councils charging huge amounts for their courts which have to be recouped via increased charges, crowded market place in sports, no local stars - which invokes a downward spiral and the increased international presence of the game. Tennis Australia do seem to be putting a lot more into the grass roots system, but this all takes time and maybe we will have to be satisfied with just having a few good players here and there from now on.
Roger the Alien
Guest
Face facts. Tennis in Australia today is a dog. That's what comes of decades of neglect of the grass-roots and a hare-brained policy of trying to recruit ready-made stars from overseas.
Matt F
Roar Guru
Mayer deserves a bit of credit. He's ranked 25 in the world, likes playing on clay (unlike Tomic and Hewitt) and was playing in his home country. It was always going to be very difficult to beat him in either match. Results from this tie, and last years tie against Switzerland, would suggest that Tomic is our clear number one player at the moment. Ideally we'd have another player step up (maybe Ebden) in singles which would allow Hewitt to focus on the doubles, where he and Guccione are forming a good combination.
Winston
Guest
Hewitt should take a leaf out of Sampras and Agassi's books. Neither of them played much Davis Cup at all and focused on their own events. He is at a stage where he simply can't play too much and should just focus on the grand slams and may a couple of other events which he feels he can win. There are things more important than representing your country and that is called prizemoney!
Brenda
Guest
Well done Lleyton but what about Tomic?He only won one of his matches.Maybe more focus should be on his poor performance against Mayer and lack of support for Hewitt and the rest of the team. Tomic now needs to produce more consistent results on court and earn the public support.How long does Hewitt have to carry Australia's Davis Cup team?
Brian
Guest
Am a huge hewitt fan but given his stated fatigue, experirnce and the ease of the loss I wonder if they should have let ebden play the last tie.
Bruce McCormack
Guest
Hewitt fought as only he can but was not to be his cup tie. Perhaps the grind of big tennis is slowly wearing his body down even though the wonderful fighting spirit is still evident. Hewitt has been a wonderful servant of Australian tennis and placed his ambitions alongside those of Australia and many of our prima donnas could take a leaf from his book. Well done leighton you canhold your head high Australia is proud of you.