This is an interesting site. Provides some great insight post match.
http://www.tennisabstract.com/charting/20140105-M-Brisbane-F-Roger_Federer-Lleyton_Hewitt.html
Taking nothing away from Hewitt, I think the unforced errors & lack of break point conversions tell the story. Looking at the shot direction is interesting as RF put over 40% in the middle of the court and had hardly any inside out or inside in shots, which I recall as his forte in the past when he would control points.
Having watched the match it was clear he was shanking far more balls than the previous matches this week. He also seemed to often hit the ball right back to Hewitt, and rarely made him run. Maybe that was good guesswork on Hewitts part, or he just knew the pattern, either way on the rare occasion RF went up the line it appeared to do well for him. He also chipped a bunch of second serves back, even saw a forehand chip return. Why? No idea, but clearly not his best offensive work. Hewitt on the other hand went after head high kick serves aggressively numerous times, and reaped the benefits of that.
RF got more aces than I can recall in a long time this week, but clearly this final wasn't his best work. Eliminating three RF unforced errors in the third set alone would have changed the match. Two were on his break chances during LH's first two service games, and one was trying to save a break during his second service game.
I don't have an opinion other than finding the stats very telling. Unforced errors and shanks don't make for exciting tennis to watch so I hope to see some improvement at AO. Interesting to see that even at the highest level there is something to be said for making your opponent hit one more shot, and unforced errors can sink anyone.
