Hewitt in trouble again ....

[TheMase]

CINCINNATI: World No.1 Lleyton Hewitt launched a furious tirade against the ATP, the organisers of men's tennis, after being fined for refusing a media interview.

Hewitt claimed they had requested an interview only minutes before his first round match in the $US2.95 million ($A5.57 million) Cincinnati Masters today.

The ATP said in a statement that they would be fining Hewitt either $US20,000 ($A37,764) or half of his prize money for the event, whichever amount is greater.

After the match Hewitt said: "I'm a bit surprised I was able to keep any balls in court considering the crap that was going on before the match."

The 21-year-old, who has a reputation for reticence with the media, said the ATP's request for a televised interview with ESPN before his match against Robby Ginepri almost ruined his chances of winning the contest.

He went on to win 6-0 6-0 in just 41 minutes.

"I have never, ever done an interview... before I play a match. So this is going on and in the end I wasn't going to walk on court, simple as that."

Despite Hewitt's claims that the interview was a last minute request, sources in the ATP say the player was asked as early as last Wednesday, during the Masters Series event in Toronto.

Hewitt refused to do the interview there and had two further chances to comply on Sunday and Monday, but declined.

Under ATP rules players must do interviews with the tournament's host broadcaster, in this case ESPN, as part of their commitments to the STARS program.





Apparently the fine could be as big as $375,000 (Just heard on radio)

 

[McAlmanac]

Interviewing athletes before competition - totally dumb.

 

[daddy_4_eyes]

Revenue raising by the ATP. World sporting federations/organisations are always quick to issue fines, too bad athletes can't fine them for their incompetence.

 

[Lockyer24]

thats my boy, give em hell Hewie

 

[highflying]

let lleyton's on-court performance do the talking

 

[Joe Mama]

I can't entirely blame him for refusing to talk to the American (and Australian) media, because they have done nothing more than to distort his public image.

Journalists lie, cheat and distort for a living and they are one of the most un-trustworthy individuals on earth, and if I was Lleyton Hewitt, I would say to the media pack "Write what you want, you always do", that would keep then in their place.

 

[Lleyton Hewitt]

C'mon! It was total crap that they asked me to do an interview before the game. I mean c'mon, what do they expect me to do, not prepare for my match or something? It made it bloody hard to concentrate out there and it almost stuffed up my chances, but lucky the guy I was playing was total crap and could hardly hit any good shots back to me!

 

[TheMase]

They asked him to do a interview three days before, at the end of the last tournament.

They wanted it the day before his match, not on the day of his match...

 

[Lleyton Hewitt]

Yeah, bring on Andre Agassi in my next match, c'mon!!

 

[Rohan_]

Originally posted by Lleyton Hewitt
Yeah, bring on Andre Agassi in my next match, c'mon!!

No one is listening Seindude..

 

[highflying]

Well, he just beat Andre Agassi - into the semis now. The ATP must be gleefully rubbing their hands together anticipating their half of Lleyton's prizemoney.

 

[SeinDude]

Originally posted by Rohan_
No one is listening Seindude..

Rohan,

What on earth are you on about mate??

Bad luck to the pies last night.

Cheers!!
SeinDude