Lleyton Hewitt pulls out of 2011 US Open – Tennis News
Former world number one, Aussie Lleyton Hewitt announced his withdrawal from the 2011 US Open late Tuesday citing a post surgery sore foot as the reason for his absence from Flushing Meadows in a few days time.
Hewitt’s announcement came a day after the 2010 women’s champion and the Aussie’s once romantic interest, Kim Clijsters pulled herself out of the event. A former world number one herself, the Belgian mama decided not to play at
New York after having not recovered fully from the stomach injury received during her second round match against Chinese qualifier Jie Zheng at the 2011 Rogers Cup.
However, Hewitt’s injuries are far more than just sympathetic pains for his ex. Plagued by chronic injuries for more than three years now; the Aussie has faced early exits from several events this year. A force that could once
go toe-to-toe with the Swiss maestro, Roger Federer, the flame that is Hewitt has long since dwindled to a flicker.
A pro since 1998, the 30-year-old is a two time Grand Slam champion winning one of them at Flushing Meadows in 2001. Debuting in New York in 1999, the Aussie has seven quarterfinal, three semi-final and two final appearances at
this event. Defeating the American legend and also former world number one, Pete Sampras in 2001 in front of the latter’s home crowd, Hewitt was able to take clinch his first Grand Slam win of his career. Although the Aussie made it to three Major finals after;
Wimbledon (2001), US Open (2004) and Australian Open (2005), he only managed a win at Wimbledon where he won his second and to-date the only other Grand Slam, defeating David Nalbandian. Hewitt’s losses in 2004 and 2005 came to Federer and Marat Safin respectively.
Appearing in two of three Grand Slams this year, the Aussie was absent from the 2011 Roland Garros after having under gone a surgery for his ankle. Even the Aussie’s appearance at the remaining Grand Slams made no major impact
as he exited from the first round in the Australian Open and from the second round in Wimbledon.
Played in only nine events this year, Hewitt was only present for the Indian Wells Masters missing the remaining six on account of one injury or the other. He faced a first round exit from Indian Wells. Although the Aussie has
three quarterfinal showings at San Jose, Memphis and Halle, he has yet to make any mark this season. Failing to defend his only title of 2010 at Halle, Hewitt plummeted out of the rankings, continuing his downward spiral with every week. The once world number
one currently ranks well outside the top 150 at the 188th position.
Although injured and missing the US Open next week, Hewitt is expected to play in Australia’s Davis Cup tie against Switzerland.
Tags: