Olivier Rochus reaches second round as Lleyton Hewitt retires – AEGON International 2011
World number 89 Olivier Rochus of Belgium qualified for the round of 16 as former world number 1 Lleyton Hewitt of Australia retired from the opening round match of AEGON International at Devonshire Park in Eastbourne on Tuesday. The Australian was trailing 2-6, 0-3 when he decided to forfeit the match due to a foot injury. The match lasted for just 48 minutes.
Rochus dominated the match from the start as he broke Hewitt in the opening game of the first set, holding his serve in the next game and taking a 2-0 lead. The Belgian claimed another break of serve in the seventh game and consolidated on it to win the set 6-2.
The five feet and six inches tall delivered 60 percent of the first serves in the opening set, claiming 75 percent of the points on them. On the other hand, Hewitt had a first serve percentage of just 56 percent, converting a meager 58 percent of them into points. The Australian did not receive any break point on Rochus’ serve and failed to save two of the seven break points on his own serve in the first set.
Rochus broke Hewitt in the first and third game of the second set to blaze forward to a 3-0 lead. At this moment, the Australian decided to quick the match due to pain in his ankle.
The Belgian fired two aces and 67 percent of the first serves, grabbing 75 percent of the points on them in the second set. In comparison, Hewitt managed to deliver just 45 percent of the first serves and converted 40 percent of them into points. The Australian won 25 percent of the points on first return. Whereas, Rochus bagged 60 percent of the first return points in the second set. The Belgian capitalised on both break point opportunities he received on Hewitt’s serve and did not face any break point on his own serve in the second set.
Hewitt twisted his ankle during the quarterfinal match against Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany at the Gerry Weber Open in Halle last week. The Australian lost the match 6-7(4), 3-6.
A disappointed Hewitt said, after that match, “It's a little bit frustrating because I'm actually quite happy with my ball striking at the moment, which is frustrating because my movement is such a big part of my game. That's the most frustrating thing, I guess more frustrating when you feel or you know you've done all the right things, as well, to try and put yourself in a position.”
The Australian added, “This is one of my favorite times of the year playing these grass court tournaments, as well, so to not be 100 percent and going out there still trying to compete isn't that easy mentally, either.”
Rochus is slated to take on world number 69 Carlos Berlocq of Argentina in the second round.
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