Serena Williams and Lleyton Hewitt trod vastly different Australian Open paths at Melbourne Park yesterday.
Williams was down 3-5, 15-40 and in strife against Russian Vera Zvonareva, but won that game and the next nine in succession to coast home 7-5 6-0 in 85 minutes.
Hewitt led 6-2 6-1 and 1-0, and was in total command against Germany’s Benjamin Becker in the first hour, but lost the last three sets 6-3 6-4 6-2 in a tick over three.
The difference between Williams and Hewitt was power – Williams was full of it, as she’s been throughout her career – Hewitt the severe lack of it, as it’s been throughout his career.
And in this era of elite tennis, lacking power is terminal.
Williams served around the 200kph mark, Zvonereva 167, and that translated to Williams winning 55 per cent of her receiving points, to Zvonereva’a 33 per cent.
Williams smacked 32 winners to 11, again commanding, and ended up winning 72 points overall to 47.
The Williams’ power was at times awesome, even though we have seen her destroy so many hapless opponents over the years, that power has never diminished.
That’s why Williams is in her 101st successive week as the world number one this time round, and 224 weeks overall, to be fourth on the all-time list behind Steffi Graf’s 377 weeks at the top, Martina Navratilova’s 332, and Chris Evert’s 260,
Hewitt spent 80 weeks as the world number one in early 2000s in winning the US Open and Wimbledon. In the interim, racquets and balls have been greatly enhanced, but power has never been part of Lleyton Hewitt’s box of tricks.
Yet in the first hour against Becker last night, in front of a packed Rod Laver Arena, it was the Hewitt of old.
In the first set he forced Becker into 16 errors, but gave up only five, converted two of three break points, while Becker didn’t have a break point, as Hewitt won 27 points to 17 to take the first set 6-2.
It was much the same story in the second set, Becker made 17 unforced errors to seven, Hewitt converted both his break points while Becker never had one, as Hewitt won 26 points to 14.
Then the wheels came off big time for Hewitt, it was hard to reconcile the same two players were doing battle – it became Becker, Becker, Becker.
No matter what Hewitt did, Becker had the answer to chalk up his first five-set win in his career.
Whether retirement bells are ringing is a decision left to the 33-year-old Aussie, and he’s playing his cards close to his chest.
In the post-match interview Hewitt mentioned the Davis Cup clash with the Czech Republic in Ostrava in early March, but nothing else.
Whatever happens, Lleyton Hewitt has been a faithful servant of Australian tennis for two decades.
As Jim Courier predicted on Channel 7 last night, ink in Lleyton Hewitt for induction in the Hall of Fame in five years. That’s the minimum amount of time before any induction can take place after hanging up the racquet.
And that ultimate honour will be well deserved.