Lleyton Hewitt outlasts Lukas Rosol in the opening round – BNP Paribas Open 2013
Former world number one, Lleyton Hewitt, rallied past the Czech star, Lukas Rosol, in a three-set thriller at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells on Friday. He summed up a 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 victory against the Czech to power into the second round at this ATP
(Association of Tennis Professionals) Masters 1000 event taking place in Indian Wells, United States.
The two-time champion at this hard court event, Hewitt recreated his magic to outclass Rosol in one hour and 35 minutes. Battling each other for the first time, Hewitt took lead in the FedEx ATP Head 2 Head series by 1-0 against the 27-year-old.
The Australian icon was quoted in a courtside interview after stealing the show:
"It was tough conditions, really cold and windy. First set early on we both could have got breaks and then I had a lot more opportunities as the set went on. Early in the second set I played a bit of a loose game and he got a lot more confident. He served
well for the rest of the second set, which put me under pressure. The third set I tried to get onto his serve again at the start, I was able to do that, fought hard to go up a break. Then I got better as the match went on."
Hewitt high-spiritedly entered the American hard courts. He swiftly bagged his entire serves with poise. The Aussie then got the breakthrough in the seventh game and eventually clicked the opener with a 6-4 win.
The world number 62, Rosol rebounded in the proceeding set. He drew the first blood in the second game and jumped to a 3-0 lead. The Czech cashed another break of serve in the sixth game and jumped to a 5-1 lead. Despite squandering his serve in the very
next game, Rosol plucked his serve in the last game and grabbed the equaliser with a 6-3 win.
Currently ranked 98th in the Emirates ATP Rankings, Hewitt re-gathered his strength in the final set. After Rosol held his serve in the second game, the Aussie went berserk and ultimately clinched the decider with a breadstick.
Up next for Hewitt is the American number one, John Isner.
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