Hewitt places bookmark in career
Ossian Shine
When Lleyton Hewitt unfurled the most delicate of lobs which arched over the racket of Juan Carlos Ferrero, he not only won his second Tennis Masters Cup but he placed a bookmark in his life, one which in years to come he will refer back to and glow with pride.
It was a shot hit under immense pressure. The only one which would count. One hit with consummate cool and which delivered a most sought-after trophy to the 21-year-old Australian.
The Wimbledon champion outlasted Ferrero 7-5, 7-5, 2-6, 2-6, 6-4 on Sunday to win the eight-player tournament. On the way to the final, he beat Albert Costa, Marat Safin and Roger Federer and lost to Carlos Moya.
Hewitt won this exclusive season-ender in 2001 aged 20.
On that day in Sydney he became the youngest champion.
Twelve months later in Shanghai his victory was, in many respects, more impressive.
As Pete Sampras, the winner of a record 14 Grand Slam titles often says, to hold on to something is so much harder than winning it in the first place.
"This has been a special week not only in my tennis career, but in my life," Hewitt said after coming off court, his cheeks still flushed from the effort.
"To have won the Masters again... it's the sort of thing that once you settle down, retire, you look back on it and see that you were able to beat such a high calibre of players within six days. I will be very proud."
Hewitt can indeed be very proud after a week of baseline battles. A week of tussles and triumph.
"Ever since growing up in juniors. I had to play a way to beat them," he said. "One of these ways was being mentally tough out on the court. The never-say-die attitude.
"Sometimes I got my butt kicked and I didn't really enjoy that and sometimes worked out how to beat them.
"It's hard to believe that, you know, so much has happened at such a young age. You know, it's very surprising to me. It's not that long ago that I was, you know, going with my parents to the Australian Open with my sister and watching.
"I remember getting there before all the matches and watching Ivan Lendl grind it out with (Tony Roche) Rochey on the practice courts out the back and I went to Melbourne Park every year since it's been open and, you know, for me, that was just the greatest holiday being there and seeing those guys play in the Australian Open.
"For me to actually not only be part of the Australian Open and part of the tour now to actually be at the pinnacle of it, like a guy like Lendl was and that who I sort of looked up to and, you know, just tried to work out everything that they did, you know, it definitely is surprising sometimes."
Surprise or not, Hewitt certainly knows what comes next. "When I eventually won today, just relief," he said. "I can put my feet up and go on holidays. It'll be great. Can't wait."
