Australia’s Lleyton Hewitt, against all odds after a five-set marathon quarterfinal win that included a dodgy hip injury, ground down Andy Roddick 3-6, 7-6(3), 7-6(4), 6-1 in a match lasting just short of three hours.
Hewitt began slowly in the face of Roddick’s blistering serves, but eventually found his tenacious way into the match with pinpoint accuracy off the ground and his trademark hustle.
Roddick was angry at the lost opportunity on a good serving day that included 31 aces.
“I’m pissed off, you know, I’m mad,” Roddick said. “I felt like I was in there with a shot. To lose two tiebreakers like that, which either one would have given me a distinct advantage, it’s disappointing."
Hewitt is attempting to become the first Aussie to claim the Australian Open title since 1976.
“It’s awesome,” said Hewitt, the No. 3 seed behind the No. 2 Roddick. “I always said I’d do anything to play in the first night final in Australian Open men’s history and I’ve gotten my chance.”
Hewitt had previously never made it past the fourth round in Melbourne, and will now surpass Roddick at No. 2 on the ATP Rankings.
In the final Hewitt will face Marat Safin, who on Thursday edged world No. 1 Roger Federer in five sets.
“I’m going to have to raise my game again,” said Hewitt on facing Safin. “Go out there and give it everything I’ve got and see what happens.”
Aussie Molik Wins Doubles Title at Australian Open
While Australia’s Alicia Molik lost to Lindsay Davenport in the singles at the Australian Open, she exacted sweet revenge Friday, teaming with Svetlana Kuznetsova in the doubles final to oust Davenport and partner Corina Morariu 6-3, 6-4.
“Congratulations to Alicia and Svetlana, they played remarkably well today, we definitely tip our hats to them,” said a teary-eyed Davenport, recalling her partners battle with leukemia. “But after what we’ve been through, we are extremely proud to be the runners-up.”
Davenport/Morariu also lost in the 2001 final.
“I feel really blessed to be here,” said an emotional Morariu. “I have (Davenport) to thank for it, she has been an incredible friend.”
It was the first title as a team for Kuznetsova and Molik.
TENNIS-X NEWS, NOTES, QUOTES AND BARBS
Serena Williams has won 11 straight matches in Melbourne...Lindsay Davenport has won two straight over Serena, but is down 9-4 overall in the series...Andy Roddick has lost four of his last five tiebreakers...Has Andy Roddick returned yet from his end of the third-set bathroom break?...Lleyton Hewitt is the first Aussie to reach the final in Melbourne since Pat Cash lost to Mats Wilander...At one point at the end of the first set and the start of the second set, Andy Roddick hit seven straight aces against Lleyton Hewitt...Marat Safin has won 10 straight five-setters in Grand Slam play...Roger Federer and Andy Roddick are both winless in terms of events under their new coaches...On Saturday, an American will win a Slam for the first time since the 2003 US Open...Marat Safin has reached the Australian Open final three of the last four years...Lindsay Davenport has lost in the doubles final in Australia six times...Due to the heat, the junior event and the doubles were moved indoors Friday. Rains came late in the afternoon, and once it cleared the roof was re-opened for the Roddick-Hewitt match...Mahesh Bhupathi’s company Globosport, which brought next month's WTA Hyderabad (India) Open to the country a couple years ago, says Jelena Dokic will make he 2005 debut at the event if she's recovered from her elbow injury that sidelined her last year when she dropped out of the Top 100. Back with he crazy dad Damir, Jelena also had nose surgery recently to correct a breathing problem...Roger Federer on the pain in his right arm against Marat Safin: “There’s no injury. It was troubling me a bit, but that’s all. It felt a lot better in the fifth set and it will be gone tomorrow. It’s a shame. I haven’t played in that many great matches like this one. To lose when one has had a match point always hurts.” Now the Swiss has a pain in his arm, and a potential pain in the ass for 2005 in Safin...Lleyton Hewitt on his shoulder brushing during the changeover in his match against David Nalbandian: "He brought it on himself a little. He sort of waited for a bit of a shoulder." You be the judge. Nalbandian on Hewitt: "He is not a gentleman. What he does is not good for tennis. His attitude speaks for itself."...It's Sania-mania as Indian sensation Sania Mirza prepares to play the WTA stop in Hyderabad, if her injured ankle will let her, after losing to Serena Williams at the Australian Open...Maria Sharapova auctioned off the Porsche she won at the WTA Championships, giving the proceeds to the victims of the September school shooting in Russia.
Hewitt Scraps Win Over Roddick to Gain Australian Open Final