Hewitt Faces Unknown in ATP Sydney FinalPosted on January 14, 2005
Top-seeded Lleyton Hewitt came back from a set down to defeat Belarus' Max Mirnyi 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-2 Friday at the ATP stop in Sydney for his 19th consecutive win at the event. "I'm sure Max knew after the first set I wasn't going away, even though I lost in the tiebreak," Hewitt said. "I had more opportunities at the end of the set than he did. I think a lot of guys know that I'm not going away. It's a matter of being mentally tough. I know a lot of guys on the tour today would have thrown in the second set knowing that there's a grand slam to get ready for in a couple of days' time, but that's just not for me." Also driving Hewitt's motivation was the payoff of an unseeded opponent in the final, with tour neophyte Ivo Minar defeating Radek Stepanek 6-1, 6-2 in the other all-Czech semifinal. It is the career-first final for Minar, who entering the event had only won one career ATP match. “Last year was good. I began last year, I start 500 and I was 160 on the end year. I was two times in final in the challenger," said the 20-year-old Minar, who had nine aces during the match. "I was in one tournament in ATP in Kitzbuehel...Last year I played, I think, same tennis like all this tournament. But I began last year at 500. I couldn't play ATP In facing Minar for the first time, Hewitt says he will do much of his scouting on the fly. “I don't even really know what he looks like," Hewitt said. "So, yeah, (coach) Roger (Rasheed) would have scouted a bit, though. I've got to go out there and play my game, and I'll work it out in the first couple of games, you know, what to expect from him.” The doubles final will be unseeded Frenchmen Clement/Llodra vs. (3)Bhupathi/Woodbridge. |
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