The Lleyton Hewitt Appreciation Thread

[Funkalicous]

I've noticed a hell of a lot of tennis players get injured during matches when they are losing...

Of course. You would play on with a broken leg if you thought there was something important to win.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

#1 for nearly 2 years straight is fairly dominant....
give credit where it's due - he was the best in the world clearly for a number of years...
Will be a walk-up start in the Tennis Hall of Fame once he's retired & eligible

I hope you are not talking about the world tennis hall of fame as he is no hope to be honest! #1 is fine but come on who was he facing...roddick..yeah anyone else. He was the best at a time between the sapras and the federer eras. Above solid at best IMO.

 

[- PC -]

He was the best at a time between the sapras and the federer eras. .

But thats all he could be? How could he be better?

 

[LukeParkerno1]

But thats all he could be? How could he be better?

How about winning a major tournament now for starters! And if he was so "dominant" well 2 slams out of 8 is hardly dominant!

 

[likka]

Hewitt is history.

The power game is overtaking him and his body is starting to fail him due to the physicality of his game.

Very similar to the demise of Michael Chang.

Will probably be able to maintain a spot in the top 20 if he stays healthy, but those who reckon he has a chance of returning to top 5 are playing with themselves.

 

[Baxter Stockman]

Lleyton def. Spadea 6-3 6-3!!!
good comeback from injury.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

So what Spadea is s..t!

 

[hong_kong_bond]

I hope you are not talking about the world tennis hall of fame as he is no hope to be honest! #1 is fine but come on who was he facing...roddick..yeah anyone else. He was the best at a time between the sapras and the federer eras. Above solid at best IMO.

absolute certainty when he retires...
bookmark this post if you want, he'll be there for sure

 

[LukeParkerno1]

absolute certainty when he retires...
bookmark this post if you want, he'll be there for sure

Australian tennis hall of fame, possibly. Not a world tennis hall of fame IMO.

 

[hong_kong_bond]

Australian tennis hall of fame, possibly. Not a world tennis hall of fame IMO.

absolute certainty for the world tennis hall of fame...

There's already over 200 members - and considering that there's only been 23 World #1s in the last 35 or so years, he'd be pretty stiff to miss.

I'm certainly not his biggest fan & some of his antics over the years have made me cringe & wish he'd shut the hell up, but at the end of the day he has achieved an extra-ordinary amount as a tennis player.

Just as a taster:
- 80 weeks at Number 1 (8th all time - and more than Edberg, Wilander, Becker & Courier) - also the youngest man to ever be #1
- One of only 8 men to finish number 1 at the end of a year more than once
- One of only 5 men to hold the number 1 ranking for an entire calendar year (along with Federer, Sampras, Lendl & Connors)
- Two Singles Slam Titles (on different surfaces) - (more than Noah, Novotna, Shriver, Sabatini, Cheney, Roche - equal with Rafter, Austin, Rose, Nastase, Stolle
- 25 Tournament Wins
- Part of 2 Davis Cup Winning Teams & all-time leading match winner for Australia

You could argue that he's achieved a lot more than Rafter did in his career, and he was nominated the first year he became eligible...I'm a massive Rafter fan as well, but would have to concede that Lleyton's record is more enviable at this stage & with potentially more to come...

My question to you is - if you still don't think he should be eligible what does he need to achieve - and how is he behind some of the players that have already qualified>

 

[LukeParkerno1]

I disagree, Rafter won 2 slams, Hewitt won 2 slams. Pretty even IMO.

 

[Borry]

Australian tennis hall of fame, possibly. Not a world tennis hall of fame IMO.

World Tennis Hall of Fame definitely possible based on what he has on his tennis resume.

 

[Heisenberg_]

absolute certainty for the world tennis hall of fame...

He isn't a certainty, he is a very good chance, but wouldn't be stiff if he missed out

 

[hong_kong_bond]

I disagree, Rafter won 2 slams, Hewitt won 2 slams. Pretty even IMO.

Rafter's in the Hall of Fame though....

 

[Vince Spadea]

So what Spadea is s..t!

Not nice.

 

[hong_kong_bond]

He isn't a certainty, he is a very good chance, but wouldn't be stiff if he missed out

I'm all for having tight controls over any "Hall of Fame"...I'd hate to see it that people get in for winning any Grand Slam event, as has been suggested - Majoli, Johannson, Gaudio, Costa etc. shouldn't get in.

Over a year and a half at #1 though with multiple slams & Davis Cups though gets you straight in in my book

 

[Monkeyboy]

Anyone hear how Rocky did in the final?? Great semi win over Safin.
Rocky may be back......c'mon!

 

[red+black]

don't think the final has started yet.

 

[3Judd3]

I missed the semi final - I just read that Safin made a lot of errors?

CMON HEWITT

 

[fryingpan]

Hewitt takes out the Las Vegas title in straight sets against Melzer!! 6-4, 7-6

Hewitttttttttttttt!!!!

 

[Arcadion]

lol... where's JA when you need him.
"The legend of Lleyton Hewitt grows with every match!"

 

[NYE TTTT]

Lleyton Hewitt SUCKS

 

[hong_kong_bond]

26 titles...
and at least one title every year for the last 10 years.

HOF has a spot reserved for him

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Pity he hardly beat anyone of any standing really. Safin is Safin and well he is awesome one day and a absolute gimp the next, plus Safin is still getting match fitness.

 

[Monkeyboy]

Pity he hardly beat anyone of any standing really. Safin is Safin and well he is awesome one day and a absolute gimp the next, plus Safin is still getting match fitness.

Oh please. Yeah Australians are just continually winning overseas tennis tournaments recently. Nothing to cheer about at all. 26 tournamnet wins including Wimbledon and US Open.
Hewitt = GUN!