how was hewitt on top for so long?

randomname · 10-02-2006, 12:25 PM

I was looking at atptennis.com today and was reading hewitt's profile and i cant figure out how he stayed #1 for so long, with only 2 slams, a few masters, and only two slam finals (one of which came after he fell from #1) was he basically just a more talented version of davydenko? (by that I mean playing in every tournament under the sun)

Max G. · 10-02-2006, 12:30 PM

No, he just won more than anyone else in those two years.

There wasn't anyone ELSE around that did any more than "1 slam/yr, a few masters", and Hewitt just had that little bit more than everyone else.

MonkeyPox · 10-02-2006, 12:46 PM

Plus, he was very good, steady, no big weaknesses (no huge weapons really, but more importantly, no big weaknesses) and fought like no one else. That'll win you some trophies.

Mikael · 10-02-2006, 12:54 PM

In 2001-2002 Lleyton was the man to beat, especially on grass and hardcourts. He started getting that "unbeatable" aura in early 2002, when he really dominated the spring hardcourt season. Later that year I think Sampras got very lucky that Agassi beat Lleyton in the semis of the US Open, or else it would've been another US Open title for Lleyton. He was really filling the void all this time, it was a weird transition period from one era to another with no one good enough to even be top 20 on a GOAT list. In 2000 it was Safin coming out on top (but also Guga to some degree), it 01 it was Guga (but also Hewitt), in 02 it was Hewitt. Most of 03 was still interesting with Agassi winning the AO, Ferrero the FO, Fedex Wimbledon and Roddick the US Open. By the early summer though it was pretty clear that both Federer and Roddick had improved so much mentally that they could dominate the field for a few years; and in a way that spelled the end for a guy like Hewitt.

I swear back in early 2002 Lleyton's game seemed to be unbeatable on anything but clay. He'd outlast all the baseliners and pass anyone coming to the net, it was insane. His mental drive was much stronger too. His serve wasn't bad at all. He'd run everything down.

superman1 · 10-02-2006, 12:58 PM

He was definitely a lot better than Davydenko. People have forgotten how good he was back then. I don't think he ever regained that form. He had a lot more fire than he has today, and I guess people hated him for it. Now he has none of that fire and people still hate him. A shame.

He was just one step ahead of Agassi throughout 2002, which was expected since he played 4 more tournaments than Agassi.

fastdunn · 10-02-2006, 01:15 PM

I remember the time Hewitt's decline started.

He made an announcement that he will play fewer number of tournaments
in order to maintain #1 status longer. Many people did not think it was
a good idea. Honestly speaking many people thought he'd better take
everything he could while he is on top since he did not apeared to be
able to stay at the top that long...

Then he started this sueing ATP over some issues that I forgot about.

Then he started to decline and then Federer arrived in 2003...

Babblelot · 10-02-2006, 01:19 PM

Hewitt's reign as number one coinceded during a period of transition. You need not look any further than the fact that between 2001 AO and 2002 USO (8 slam), there were no repeat winners. That's so rare it's occurred just one other time in the Open Era--coinsiding with Roddick's rise to #1.

fastdunn · 10-02-2006, 01:35 PM

Also both Wimbledon and US Open started experimenting with slowing their
court surfaces from 2001 and finalized in 2003.

justineheninhoogenbandfan · 10-02-2006, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fastdunn

Also both Wimbledon and US Open started experimenting with slowing their
court surfaces from 2001 and finalized in 2003.

Slower surfaces would not favor Hewitt really. He actually prefers faster surfaces.

oberyn · 10-02-2006, 02:16 PM

2001 and 2002 were so interesting as you really didn't have anyone dominating. Hewitt, as others have said, separated himself from the field by his consistency.

After he won Wimbledon, I was frankly quite surprised when he lost to Agassi in the U.S. Open Semifinals (I agree that the result must have pleased Sampras, though). Hewitt was the defending champ, younger, fitter and probably would have been fresher even though he played the later match on Saturday. I was surprised that his decline was so sudden.

I still thought that heading into 2003 he'd be the man to beat.

Oricus · 10-02-2006, 02:23 PM

Well heading into 03, I believe he did Win Indian Wells, and dominated Guga in the finals, That loss to Ivo at Wimbledon later in the year I think really started the downturn.

But lets not forget, he did manage to get back to #2 in early 05

Watcher · 10-02-2006, 03:10 PM

If I recall correctly, Hewitt had a problem with injury around Wimbledon 2003, and that caused him to slip in the rankings.

But I disagree that is "spelled the end for him." He worked very hard to get back into good form, and by the end of 2004 up through the first half of 2005, he was essentially the second best player in the world behind Federer. Nadal hadn't shown up just yet, and despite being ranked higher, Roddick lost to Hewitt at the Master's Cup '04, the Australian Open '05, and Indian Wells '05. Frankly, if Federer hadn't been around to pick up the pieces and fill the void of a single dominant player at the end of 2003, I think Hewitt would have at least five slams under his belt right now.

Mikael · 10-02-2006, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Watcher

If I recall correctly, Hewitt had a problem with injury around Wimbledon 2003, and that caused him to slip in the rankings.

But I disagree that is "spelled the end for him." He worked very hard to get back into good form, and by the end of 2004 up through the first half of 2005, he was essentially the second best player in the world behind Federer. Nadal hadn't shown up just yet, and despite being ranked higher, Roddick lost to Hewitt at the Master's Cup '04, the Australian Open '05, and Indian Wells '05. Frankly, if Federer hadn't been around to pick up the pieces and fill the void of a single dominant player at the end of 2003, I think Hewitt would have at least five slams under his belt right now.

Yeah I pretty much agree. When I wrote "it spelled the end" I was thinking of Hewitt's chances of reaching the no1 ranking and being the dominant player, like he was in late 01-02. It definitely didn't spell the end of his career, or even of his top 5 chances. To this day I think Hewitt could be a top 5 or top 3 player if he put his mind to it.

arosen · 10-02-2006, 04:16 PM

At his best, Hewitt was unbelievably tenacious. He would chase everything, and then some. He was an ultimate counterpuncher, with some surprisingly good net skills. He made around the post forehands look almost routine. Unfortunately, he is a shadow of his former self now. I hope Rafa would be able to avoid similar misfortune, after all, Rafa is also relying on his speed and tenacity more than anything else.

tennissavy · 10-02-2006, 04:52 PM

It should be noted that Hewitt had the best return in men's tennis, better than Agassi. Agassi got aced more than Lleyton, a lot more. Of course, Hewitt was an incredible mover, mentally tough, a very good serve for which he wasn't given much credit...

pound cat · 10-02-2006, 05:06 PM

He also seemed to be plagued by viral diseases..chicken pox which really knocked him out physically for months, and there was a period when he was just not feeling well from some other undetermined health conditioned. Ironically likely caused by his playing too many tournaments & tiring himself out.

Alexandros · 10-02-2006, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tennissavy

It should be noted that Hewitt had the best return in men's tennis, better than Agassi. Agassi got aced more than Lleyton, a lot more. Of course, Hewitt was an incredible mover, mentally tough, a very good serve for which he wasn't given much credit...

He only developed a stronger first serve in the later half of 2004, when he was dominating in 2001-2002 his serve was above average but not something people should be writing home about. Even now, though his first serve can win him free points he still averages between 50-60% of them in, which is a rather poor percentage.

TENNIS_IS_FUN · 10-02-2006, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by randomname

I was looking at atptennis.com today and was reading hewitt's profile and i cant figure out how he stayed #1 for so long, with only 2 slams, a few masters, and only two slam finals (one of which came after he fell from #1) was he basically just a more talented version of davydenko? (by that I mean playing in every tournament under the sun)

I think his game was suited best back in the day...now, his counter-punching style is predictable and easily destroyed. Unlike Agassi, Hewitt (Both Counter-punchers) does not have the variety to really give his opponants much trouble at all. 95% of the time his backhands will always land cross court...I don't understand why he does this though because he has a pretty decent back hand down the line, although its nothing compared to Safins

Also, Hewitt does not possess any killer weapons...all his strokes are decent, nothing spectacular.
Also, back in the day when Hewitt played opponants such as Sampras, Hewitt's game was thought to be agressive. Now, his game is considered to be the more "conservative" type. The reason why is that tennis has changed over the many years, and baseline bashing has become a normality. Hewitt's style is outdated and ineffective. He will never be a threat to anybody within the top 10, and Safin.

ctbmar · 10-03-2006, 04:07 AM

I remembered vividly that Hewitt was beating almost everyone, dominating the circuit, beating my then idol Sampras who was getting old at Queens and other tournaments and berating his "comeons" and inverted triangle sign, staring at opponents and being obnoxious. His reign at the top was roughly the same duration I felt as to the duration of my 1st idol Edberg at the top. When Edberg and Sampras were at the top, I was really glued to tennis. But when nobody could beat Hewitt, those 2 years that he was on top, I simply lost interest in tennis and did not watch much tennis on TV. Fortunately for me, my 3rd idol, Federer came along, accomplish more than what Sampras used to say, "Even Hewitt, I feel that my racket still holds the talking...", crushed Hewitt relentless until he is a pulp of a man, lost all interest, get a baby, hardly a threat now.
I don't think even Sampras got so much attention from all the former greats when he was playing as compared to Federer. There must be something special about Federer that even these former Greats are willing to watch him play. It's really a pity not watch Micheal Jordan play live...now I am think whether I should make a trip to see Federer before he loses his peak form or retire in several years, stop my procrastinating and watch him live. I guess for those who are rooting for a certain player, you will be very happy that he is dominating....But if you are against the dominating top player, you may lose interest in the sport. For me, I lost interest in basketball now because the greatest basketball player had retired - M 23.

boojay · 10-03-2006, 04:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ctbmar

For me, I lost interest in basketball now because the greatest basketball player had retired - M 23.

tru dat

10-02-2006, 01:15 PM	#6
fastdunn Legend Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 6,294	I remember the time Hewitt's decline started. He made an announcement that he will play fewer number of tournaments in order to maintain #1 status longer. Many people did not think it was a good idea. Honestly speaking many people thought he'd better take everything he could while he is on top since he did not apeared to be able to stay at the top that long... Then he started this sueing ATP over some issues that I forgot about. Then he started to decline and then Federer arrived in 2003... __________________ "I mean, you have to get emotionally involved. Otherwise, you're doing the wrong thing, you have the wrong job." - Wilander, after French Open 2008

10-02-2006, 01:35 PM	#8
fastdunn Legend Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 6,294	Also both Wimbledon and US Open started experimenting with slowing their court surfaces from 2001 and finalized in 2003. __________________ "I mean, you have to get emotionally involved. Otherwise, you're doing the wrong thing, you have the wrong job." - Wilander, after French Open 2008

10-02-2006, 04:52 PM	#15
tennissavy Hall Of Fame Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 2,820	It should be noted that Hewitt had the best return in men's tennis, better than Agassi. Agassi got aced more than Lleyton, a lot more. Of course, Hewitt was an incredible mover, mentally tough, a very good serve for which he wasn't given much credit... __________________ My name is spelled incorrectly, on purpose, so don't bother bringing it to my attention.

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