Hewitt closes on French Open third round clash with Nadal
Lleyton Hewitt, the former world No. 1 with that famed fighting spirit, is closing on a make-or-break third round clash with French Open favourite Rafael Nadal.
The gritty Australian defeated local hope Jeremy Chardy in straight sets on the final match on Philippe Chatrier Court on day three at Roland Garros, winning the match 7-5, 6-0, 6-4.
Positively for Hewitt, who entered the French Open still looking to regain some form after undergoing a hip operation following his fourth round exit from the Australian Open in January, he’s now feeling comfortable moving around the courts in Paris.
“I've been moving a lot better, especially fairly well when I went back for Davis Cup. And, yeah, as soon as I got here to Paris I enjoyed playing on these courts. These are the best courts you can possibly play on. I feel very comfortable moving on these courts,” the 29-year-old told reporters.
After a tight start to the first round match, where scores were level at 5-5 in the opening set, Hewitt pulled away from the Frenchman and allowed him just four more games for the entire match and conserving some valuable energy with a potential third round match against Nadal looming.
Not that the 28th seed is looking that far ahead just yet.
“Mate, I'm not even thinking about Rafa just yet. I just come off the court,” Hewitt told reporters after his first round victory. “I won't even be thinking about Rafa until I get on top of [second round opponent Denis] Istomin.”
The dual Grand Slam champion will take a 1-0 winning record into that second round match, with his only previous encounter against Istomin a four set victory in the second round of the Australian Open in 2008.
“He's a good ball striker,” Hewitt said of Istomin, who is currently ranked as the world No. 72. “He moves well for a big guy, totally different matchup to today's matchup [against Chardy]. In a couple days' time I'll be ready.”
Victory against Istomin will ensure Hewitt equals his results at the French Open for the past two years, but if he’s to improve upon them then it will likely be Nadal that he has to beat.
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