MELBOURNE – Two-time Grand Slam winner Lleyton Hewitt crashed out of the Australian Open’s first round after a five-set struggle with 2007 finalist Fernando Gonzalez yesterday, dealing a blow to local hopes.
The former world number one, now ranked 70, revived memories of his battling best as he came from behind to force the fifth set before succumbing 5-7, 6-2, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3.
In front of a packed Rod Laver Arena, Hewitt began at a gallop but fell off the pace as Gonzalez hit his stride in the second and third sets, cheekily mimicking the Australian’s famous fist-pump and ‘Come On!’ celebration.
But Hewitt recovered to take it into a tense decider, raising his fist and staring down Gonzalez as he broke early and again for the fourth set.
The Australian fought back from a break down in the fifth but Gonzalez took the decisive lead 4-2 after calling for attention to his left thigh. He gobbled up the first match point as Hewitt netted a return.
Hewitt, who is coming back from hip surgery, was making his 13th appearance here but is unseeded for the first time since 2000.
The 27-year-old reached the last 16 here last year, beating Marcos Baghdatis along the way in a match that finished at 4:34 am, the latest in Open history. He has not lost in the first round since 2002.
Olympic silver-medallist Gonzalez last met Hewitt here in 2007, when he won in four sets on his way to runner-up spot behind three-time champion Roger Federer. – Nampa-AFP
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