C'mon Lleyton, you ain't Rusty

Lleyton Hewitt may have won one of his most memorable matches in Brisbane on Sunday.

Roger Federer is an all time great, a colossus who might be top five all time.

For five years Leighton has fought injury after injury and never been quite at his best.

I cannot say how proud and pleased I was at the performance. His shot making was magnificent. His body seems to be like it was in his best days, his serve is the best I have ever seen it.

If anyone tries to dismiss him at the Australian Open they will find themselves in trouble.

I saw him prior to Brisbane and he looked fit, in form, smart and surprisingly calm.

He can get up for a game of marbles, so watching him ride the tough moments in Brisbane, and there were plenty, was just a treat. He controlled himself and the match almost throughout.

Like the Australian cricket team, Lleyton thrives on hard work.

He’s got a tournament this week and the Open next, so no rest for the old warrior.

At 33 in February, there cannot be any fitter looking 33 year olds on the planet, unless it is Mitch Johnson.

I wouldn’t put it past him to make the semis – and if he did the wave of emotion might just ride him through to another Grand Slam title.

Hard to picture, I know. But Lleyton isn’t nicknamed ‘Rusty’ for no reason. He tells everyone “I’m a bit rusty”, and he’s been doing it for five years.

Now he’ll have to drop the nickname and live up to ‘C’mon’ again. Rusty just doesn’t fit.

Looking forward to it Lleyton. Go get ‘em.