A small, scrappy, resolute retriever, Lleyton Hewitt fits the profile of a French Open champion.
Except that he’s Australian.
Aussie success in Paris is rarer than a French restaurant in the Outback. The last player from down under to win the men’s championship at Roland Garros was Rod Laver in 1969.
Hewitt thinks he can do it.
”The more I play on this surface, the more confident I get,” the Australian said after beating Xavier Malisse of Belgium 7-5, 6-2, 7-6 (6) in the fourth round on Monday. ”I believe in myself. I believe in my ability that I can match it with the best guys on this surface.”
Hewitt will play for a berth in the semifinals when he faces Gaston Gaudio of Argentina on Wednesday. That would be the best effort yet at Roland Garros by Hewitt, a two-time Grand Slam champion who has never won a European clay-court title.
Laver’s run to the French Open title came the year he swept all four major events. Since then, the only Australians to reach the men’s semifinals at Roland Garros have been Phil Dent in 1977 and Patrick Rafter in 1997.
Hewitt made the quarterfinals in 2001, the year he rose to number one, and he’s ranked just 12th now. Still…
”I’m a lot better player on clay overall now, and more experienced, obviously, on this surface,” he said. ”Even when I was number one in the world, I wasn’t one of the big favourites, I don’t think, to win this title.”
Hewitt reached the quarterfinals by beating four Europeans, including 19th-seeded Martin Verkerk of The Netherlands, the 2003 runner-up. Now he faces the unseeded Gaudio, one of four Argentines among the final eight.
The other quarterfinal on Wednesday will match three-time champion Gustavo Kuerten of Brazil against David Nalbandian of Argentina.
Kuerten, seeded 28th, beat Feliciano Lopez 6-3, 7-5, 6-4, and number eight Nalbandian ended number 20 Marat Safin’s wild run at Roland Garros 7-5, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-3.
Safin played with tape on both hands to cover blisters that developed during a five-set victory in the third round on Saturday. He required treatment from a trainer at least seven times.
”The hands I don’t care about actually anymore, because I’m just a little bit frustrated,” the former US Open champion said. ”It was another big opportunity for me to fight for a title. To waste the opportunity this way is a pity.”
Malisse wasted repeated chances to extend his match against Hewitt. The Belgian held five set points in the third set and failed to close out the tiebreaker after leading 6-3.
”I was just happy to get out of that third set and get off the court,” Hewitt said. ”You never know with this tournament. So many times you can have so many tough matches in the early stages, and you can wear yourself out.”
Hewitt has played 16 sets in his four victories. Gaudio has played 17, including a 6-4, 7-5, 6-3 win on Monday over Igor Andreev.
The Argentine and Hewitt are 2-2 in previous meetings and they’ve gone 1-1 this spring, with both matches on clay. In April, Hewitt came back from a set and 0-3 down to overcome Gaudio 1-6, 7-6 (5), 6-1 and saved two match points.
”He’s very confident on this surface,” Hewitt said. ”I’m still a long way away from winning the title.” — Sapa-AP