Australian Open: Net rush By Tim Callanan Posted 16 minutes agoTue 20 Jan 2015, 11:24pm Australias Lleyton Hewitt plays Chinas Ze Zhang at the Australian Open. PHOTO: Lleytons last lap? Lleyton Hewitt doesnt want to talk about it, but the end could be nigh for his storied career. (AAP: David Crosling) MAP: Melbourne 3000 Dont Say the R Word You know the word I mean: the one that accompanies just about any article written these days about Lleyton Hewitt. That R word. Retir-no I cant even bring myself to say it. Lleytons had trouble saying it too, and everyone in the Australian Open press room is either too tired of asking him about it or too scared to. One plucky chap asked him last night if this was a farewell tour and received a frosty I get asked that every day for his trouble. So lets just nip the whole question in the bud and tell ourselves hes not going to say it this year. Lets lay all of the facts out on the table and ignore them. Lets ignore the fact that last nights match against Ze Zhang was just his second match on the ATP Tour since the US Open last year - and the first hes won on the tour since last August. Lets ignore the fact that he was thoroughly beaten by an Australian journeyman in his first match of the year in Brisbane. Lets ignore the fact that, with Tomic, Kyrgios and Kokkinakis in form, Hewitts in serious danger of missing out on a Davis Cup singles berth. Lets ignore the fact that he hasnt entered a tournament after the Australian Open. Not Februarys events in Memphis and Delray Beach, both of which he played last year. Lets ignore Hewitts words at the end of last nights match that hell give it a few more days and see what happens. Lets ignore the curious coincidence that he next plays Benjamin Becker, who ended Andre Agassis career. Lets ignore all of that and say with quiet confidence that Lleyton Hewitt will be back next year for Australian Open number 20. Anyone? Beware the Comedown Australias Thanasi Kokkinakis celebrates his win over Ernests Gulbis at the Australian Open. PHOTO: Can Thanasi Kokkinakis keep his feet on the ground after his stunning win over Ernests Gulbis? (AAP Image: David Crosling) Thanasi Kokkinakis will definitely be back next year, and hopefully for many years to come, but he may never learn as much about winning a Grand Slam as he will over the next 48 hours. This video posted online by the Australian Open after Kokkinakis first round win over Ernests Gulbis gives you some idea of what the 18-year-old has been trying to process in the lead up to his match today with Sam Groth. Picture yourself as an 18-year-old in the same situation and ask yourself how youd handle it. How would you go getting to sleep that night and waking up the next morning and trying to go about things as normal? Like Nick Kyrgios since his Wimbledon win over Rafael Nadal, Thanasi Kokkinakis is learning that life as he knows it is about to change. In fact, it already has, and its how he deals with that that could play a sizeable role in how the rest of the year pans out for him. So often you see young players follow a breakthrough win with a disappointing loss. When Mark Phillipoussis beat Pete Sampras at Melbourne Park as a teenager, he followed it up by losing meekly to Mark Woodforde in the next round. How could it happen? Youve scaled a mountain then you trip on a pebble? Its the comedown and were about to learn how Kokkinakis handles it. Welcome Aussie Ajla Australias Ajla Tomljanovic celebrates her first round Australian Open win against Shelby Rogers. PHOTO: Identity crisis ... Ajla Tomljanovic is an Aussie at the Open, but remains Croatian as far as the Tour is concerned. (Getty Images: Quinn Rooney) Ajla Tomljanovic was Croatian last week as she was losing first round at the Hobart International. Last night, as she powered to a first round win over Shelby Rogers, she was Australian. Being an Aussie is clearly good for her game. The 21-year-old was born in Zagreb, but decided midway through last year to switch allegiance to Australia, even though she doesnt yet have citizenship. Its a quirk of the system that the ITF - which runs the Grand Slams - will recognise her nationality as Australian but the WTA - which runs the rest of the tour - wont, until she has citizenship. Theres a lot to like about Tomljanovic - shes tall, powerful and on the rise. Shes also in a section of the draw where she can do some real damage. Embrace her Australia, and do it quickly - she goes back to being Croatian next week
Posted on: Tue, 20 Jan 2015 20:43:12 +0000
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