It’s difficult to like Lleyton Hewitt

I think it's actually very easy to like Hewitt. Gives it his all, and despite the disgusting rubbish in the media about his problems with Bec (which is all slandering rot) never has told the media to leave him alone.

Sampras, Agassi, shall I go on

That is so true. He doesn't suck at all but if he had that shot or used it more, he would win a lot more matches.

i think Lleyton Hewitt is the best player and i try not to ever miss watching him play. he is my favourite and i love the way he plays ....from glenice

Agree 100%. I don't think many people expect Lleyton to win a grand slam. If they do, then they clearly do not know much about tennis. Tennis may be an individual sport, but I reckon when Hewitt goes out there he's representing Australia as much as he's representing himself. And while Tomic may now be a better player than Hewitt, and is our best chance of winning a grand slam, Hewitt is still in my mind, the best man to represent Australian tennis on the world stage. Until Tomic (or someone else) overtakes him in that respect, there's no way he should even think about retirement.

Like many Lleyton Hewitt fans, I watch some of current matches and cringe as he helplessly falls short of balls he could have moonwalked to 5-10 years ago, but it's not our place to tell him to retire. The constant example people use, and is in this article, is Andy Roddick who bowed out at 29 because he realised he couldn't win Grand Slams anymore. And that's great, I respect Roddick deeply. But Lleyton Hewitt isn't still here because he thinks he can win every Grand Slam (though he plays like he does, and that's brilliant). He's playing tennis because he still loves the game, and knows that when he retires he won't be able to do this anymore. Who are we to tell him to stop? Because we expect him to rediscover some lost form from years ago? Whether or not he can still make the Top 32 when healthy is irrelevant to this point, his playing career shouldn't be dictated by whether or not he's meeting our expectations of him. Let him decide when he doesn't love tennis.

And adding on to your point, I'd much rather watch a game with a player like Lleyton who pumps himself and the crowd up with "C'mons!" than those players who try to pretend like the crowd isn't there during their match. Being at the Open is so much more fun when you're watching someone who engages the crowd, I believe. I couldn't imagine calling Lleyton's on-court actions anything but entertaining.

I can't stand lleyton Hewitt on court antics eg this come on and punching the ground. He is the same age as Roger Federer but there is no comparing them. Hewitt should retire now. As for Tomic, let's see how long it takes for him to revert to his bad boy ways

one of your worst comments ever and thats saying a lot "worst player this country has ever had"

Luckily, no one cares about "your book". Hewitt's the youngest player, and one of the few Aussie players, to ever reach the number one ranking, he's won 28 ATP titles, 2 grand slams and has represented us for the longest at the Davis cup. There is no doubt that Hewitt'll go down as Australia's best player of the last two decades. Only those who haven't followed him throughout his entire career misunderstand his on court behavior as being "arrogant" or lacking sportsmanship. He might not go down as Australia's best player of all time (Rod Laver or John Newcombe deserve that distinction), but no other Australian in the last twenty years has achieved more in the sport of tennis than Hewitt.

LLEYTON IS THE BEST AUSSIE PLAYER

In some way I am in half agreement with this post. I have never found Hewitt to be a likeable sort of chap nor have I ever thought him to be the tennis player that would be revered by Australians. His time is fast approaching but I have no problem with him still playing I just wish the Media would not pump him up like they do. He was above being an arrogant tennis player years ago when he was at the top He was just plain obnoxious to say the least. That in itself put me off him for all time. I could stand John McEnroe and his outbursts but not Hewitt. Hewitt was just a spoiled little brat. McEnroe had some class. I always wondered what Bec Cartwight saw in him. But that's not for me to say. Hewitt did play well in his earlier career and deserves some credit for what he has achieved in the pureness of playing the game, however his lack of grace and his obnoxious manner certainly wiped away any credit that I gave to him. I'm over him and have been for some considerable time. He will not go down as one of the memorable tennis players in Australia's history in my book. His attitude has tainted any talent that he portrayed IMO.

A five second Google search would have shown the author that Hewitt's record is far more impressive than Rafter's. Hewitt's commitment to the Davis Cup and his tenacious approach to the game compares favourably to any Australian tennis player. The author should take up another subject and leave sports commentary to those who have the intellectual integrity to do a bit of research.

I have to say I am dismayed that Mr Hewitt can't see the writing on the wall that is left for all to see and the writing gets bigger every year ;...Mr Hewitt you must see sense and retire as soon as poss -it's way way way past the sad, stupid , pathetic stage that you are seen to rage against the dying of the light ...your time has passed long since and its time you packed the racket away and made yourself content with family life ..don't continue it's almost at the stage where people will be laughing at you :-)

Yes Mals we don't need to like him but we sure must respect him for his contribution the Australian Davis Cup team. Tennis professionals play for the pay cheque. They do not represent their nationality/country/ethnicity on the PROFESSIONAL TENNIS TOUR, they are playing for themselves.

Not unAustralian, just uninformed.

He was actually right in arguing with the umpire on Monday as tipsarevic was meant to make the decision himself about a challenge Instead he looked at the umpire before challenging which is considered a 'no-no' ny players The umpire had to apologise because he was in the wrong and he knew it as well

Lleyton Hewitt - our best men's tennis player since John Newcombe. Also an Australian Davis Cup team great = RESPECT!

Whenever Hewitt, and any other tennis player for that matter, starts glaring at the linespeople, and goes off at the chair umpire, I find myself shouting at the TV, "Just get on with it, you moron!" On the flipside, my favourite tennis player is Kim Clijsters, who, as we all know, was engaged to Hewitt a long time ago. But Kim has a personality that most people can warm to, whereas Hewitt has a personality that only feral bogans can relate to (Kim being the exception when she was younger). I'm not sure why Kim was attracted to Lleyton back then (maybe she saw him as a rebellious bad boy?), but I was very relieved when they broke up. With Tomic, I really hope he becomes a likable person. As long as he learns from past mistakes, then he should be on the right track.

I think 28 singles titles to Tomics 1 show a class leap there Around eight of those were won around Tomics age including the two slams Not to mention tomic beat Djok 24 hours after a flight from Abu Dhabi, I wouldn't be getting ahead of myself now as to how well Tomic is actually playing And as for Hewitt before 04' he had federer 9-2 in head to head Hewitt played earlier and peaked during 01-04 then he started to slow down due to injuries and the like That Hewitt was dominant for those three years because he was the worlds best, not a lack of competition at all Speaking of which, has anyone ever seen a better lob than Lleyton's? Just in term of shots etc;