Hewitt: one of the all time mentally tough players

C

Coria

Banned
This guy is as good of a competitor as Jimmy Connors, and I never thought I'd say that. He never takes points off, reaches so deep within and is the best "fighter" of his generation.

He should have lost to Spadea and again, he reaches deep within and pulls one out. I believe he'd have about 6 majors if it wasn't for who will go down as the greatest of them all---FedEX.

Like him or not, the guy is the ultimate winner and competitor--as good as anybody in sports right now.
 
Yea I agree that he would have more grandslams if it wasnt for Federer. I think he would have 1 more Wimbledon and 1 more US Open. He lost to Safin in that Australian Open so I don't count that.
 
his sportsmanship is just who he is ON THE COURT. he has aussie all over him. like philipoussis said b4 "he'd rip a man's head off to win a match." he is definiantly one of the toughest, if not the toughest competitor of tennis. the only tougher competitor than hewitt in sports that i can think of is Tyson, they dude tried ripping a man's head off (the whole ear ordeal). Hewitts one of my favs and players that have problems with him just need to ignore him, so johnny mac, keep defending him.
 
Sorry, I'm an Aussie and I don't feel the need to cheer opponent's errors and psyche up the crowd when they double fault (no matter how important said point may be). You can be intense and driven without the crass attitude. See: Rafael Nadal.
 
Hewitt: "The Australian Open courts are too slow."
"The Queen's Club grass is very slow this year."
Whines! "I should be number 2 seed!"

Hewitt decided to show off his knowledge of the US Open: "Roddick and Agassi benefitted from faster courts. They asked to quicken up the US Open courts."
 
Coria said:
This guy is as good of a competitor as Jimmy Connors, and I never thought I'd say that. He never takes points off, reaches so deep within and is the best "fighter" of his generation.

He should have lost to Spadea and again, he reaches deep within and pulls one out. I believe he'd have about 6 majors if it wasn't for who will go down as the greatest of them all---FedEX.

Like him or not, the guy is the ultimate winner and competitor--as good as anybody in sports right now.
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Yep, a win over Spadea in the first round of an event in your home country is a huge one.

Hello???

Hewitt is a former No. 1 player, and is still in the Top 5. He's playing in his home country and now home town (Sydney), and we need to say how mentally tough he is to beat Vince Spadea in the first round??
 
He was apparently feeling sick for his match and Spadea was playing superbly in the first two sets.

Although the point is well made - I'd say him grinding out gritty matches against Nadal and Nalbandian in the 2004 Aussie Open were better testaments to his fighting spirit, with his injured back and long matches.
 
Alexandros said:
He was apparently feeling sick for his match and Spadea was playing superbly in the first two sets.

Although the point is well made - I'd say him grinding out gritty matches against Nadal and Nalbandian in the 2004 Aussie Open were better testaments to his fighting spirit, with his injured back and long matches.
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No doubt. He is mentally tough, and has pulled out some amazing wins (I'm thinking against Costa in five in the first rubber of the Davis Cup final in Barcelona on clay in 2000), but I don't consider this a testament to how great he is mentally.

He got through the first round, and now the real works begins.
 
Alexandros said:
He was apparently feeling sick for his match and Spadea was playing superbly in the first two sets.

Although the point is well made - I'd say him grinding out gritty matches against Nadal and Nalbandian in the 2004 Aussie Open were better testaments to his fighting spirit, with his injured back and long matches.
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No doubt. He is mentally tough, and has pulled out some amazing wins (I'm thinking against Costa in five in the first rubber of the Davis Cup final in Barcelona on clay in 2000), but I don't consider this a testament to how great he is mentally.

He got through the first round against a much lesser player, and now the real works begins.
 
VamosRafa said:
Yep, a win over Spadea in the first round of an event in your home country is a huge one.

Hello???

Hewitt is a former No. 1 player, and is still in the Top 5. He's playing in his home country and now home town (Sydney), and we need to say how mentally tough he is to beat Vince Spadea in the first round??
Click to expand...

You obviously don't know the specifics of the match. Do your homework before you sound like a fool.
 
I saw part of it. Did you read the article? These are the matches this guy wins, when he's not feeling well, on the brink of losing and playing poorly for him.

That's the focus of the point on mental toughness. This was ONE example of how this guy is able to dig deep, even when he's off his game and not enthusiastic about playing.
 
I will say one thing about Hewitt. He has calmed down a bit. not like he use to be (with all of those ANNOYING c'mons). Now he's a little more quiet..maybe because of the beatdowns that the Swiss Master Roger Federer has given him.
 
Coria said:
No, you guys don't even know what you are talking about. I used this match as an example of this guy's mental ability. And Tundra, you add nothing to the forum--you never have. Can you please go away?

http://sports.yahoo.com/ten/news?slug=reu-sydneyhewittdc&prov=reuters&type=lgns
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Geez, if things were that bad, as depicted in the article, you would have expected a third-set tiebreak with some real dramatics.

But this is the first-round match in a relatively unimportant event. If Hewitt can't pull together there, then things don't look for later, do they?
 
And yet even after all of the losses to Federer, he never stops fighting, never sulks and actually played a tremendous match against Federer at the recent US OPEN, having a chance to go go up 2 sets to one.

Afterward, Federer complimented Hewitt and talked about feeling he could see himself losing that match. Fed probably has more respect for Hewitt than any other player (possible exception of Agassi).
 
VamosRafa said:
Geez, if things were that bad, as depicted in the article, you would have expected a third-set tiebreak with some real dramatics.

But this is the first-round match in a relatively unimportant event. If Hewitt can't pull together there, then things don't look for later, do they?
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exactly....lol
 
Coria said:
And yet even after all of the losses to Federer, he never stops fighting, never sulks and actually played a tremendous match against Federer at the recent US OPEN, having a chance to go go up 2 sets to one.

Afterward, Federer complimented Hewitt and talked about feeling he could see himself losing that match. Fed probably has more respect for Hewitt than any other player (possible exception of Agassi).
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Shows you where mental toughness gets you if you can't back it up. And also where "what ifs" get you. They are what they are: "what ifs."
 
Coria said:
And yet even after all of the losses to Federer, he never stops fighting, never sulks and actually played a tremendous match against Federer at the recent US OPEN, having a chance to go go up 2 sets to one.

Afterward, Federer complimented Hewitt and talked about feeling he could see himself losing that match. Fed probably has more respect for Hewitt than any other player (possible exception of Agassi).
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Fedex is a great champion. Most likely the successor to the greatness of Sampras. He is gracious to ALL of his opponents and RESPECTS them all.

The talented and rising Rafael Nadal will be his chief rival in the years to come and certainly not Hewitt!
 
Tundra said:
Fedex is a great champion. The one and only successor to the greatness of Sampras. He is gracious to ALL of his opponents and RESPECTS them all.
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This isn't about respect to anyone. It's about declaring a former No. 1 player, who is still in the Top 5, the greatest in terms of mental toughness because he beat Vince Spadea, who finished No. 64 in 2005, in the first round of Sydney.

To quote Lleyton, "Come On!!!"
 
VamosRafa, do you have an ongoing feud with poster Coria? Or do you dislike what he says on these boards? Or do you have a dislike for Hewitt?

I ask because I'm wondering where your dismissive, superior attitude in this thread is coming from.
 
Keifers said:
VamosRafa, do you have an ongoing feud with poster Coria? Or do you dislike what he says on these boards? Or do you have a dislike for Hewitt?

I ask because I'm wondering where your dismissive, superior attitude in this thread is coming from.
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None of the above. In fact, I'm very good friends with the webmistress for Hewitt's website, http://www.lleytonhewitt.biz/, and we had a lovely e-mail exchange today about many things. We met each other in 2001. I went to Melbourne for the Davis Cup final, and she and her husband invited me to spend time with them in Sydney. Which I did, and then we went on to Melbourne.

So I'm very familiar with Lleyton and his Davis Cup history (in fact I saw his prior heroics, in person, in Barcelona, 2000, and Nice 1999 (which Aus won), as well as Melbourne 2001). And I don't disagree with the major premise; I just disagree with how it's being presented here.

If anything, it's demeaning to Leyton. Come on!!!
 
devila said:
Hewitt: "The Australian Open courts are too slow."
"The Queen's Club grass is very slow this year."
Whines! "I should be number 2 seed!"

Hewitt decided to show off his knowledge of the US Open: "Roddick and Agassi benefitted from faster courts. They asked to quicken up the US Open courts."
Click to expand...

Wow, you sure are an equal opportunity hater. I have seen you rip into Federer, Roddick, Agassi, and Hewitt among others. Do you actually like any tennis players or the game of tennis at all?
 
Keifers said:
VamosRafa, do you have an ongoing feud with poster Coria? Or do you dislike what he says on these boards? Or do you have a dislike for Hewitt?

I ask because I'm wondering where your dismissive, superior attitude in this thread is coming from.
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I agree with you here. She is rather dismissive of Coria's opinion and certainly shows a superior attitude. I actually agree with what Coria was saying. Hewitt certainly is not playing great right now, but he was still able to pull out a tough match. What Spadea is ranked is irrelevent. If most players were having a bad day as Hewitt was, they would lose to Spadea that day.
 
Steve Dykstra said:
I agree with you here. She is rather dismissive of Coria's opinion and certainly shows a superior attitude. I actually agree with what Coria was saying. Hewitt certainly is not playing great right now, but he was still able to pull out a tough match. What Spadea is ranked is irrelevent. If most players were having a bad day as Hewitt was, they would lose to Spadea that day.
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They would, because Hewitt is a top ranked player, and Spadea isn't -- he isn't even in the Top 50.

There's a reason the Top ranked players are top ranked, and Hewitt showed that today. But nothing out of the ordinary for a top-ranked player. He didn't have to leap any tall buildings. He just did what most top players have to do to get a W at the end of any tournament -- beat a lower ranked player in the first round, and he did that, regardless of how either of them felt during the match. And before a home crowd no less. Perhaps he wouldn't have put in the same effort if the tournament was in another country.

So what's the big deal? Now it may impact how he does in later rounds, if he isn't 100%. But that's a different issue.

But the reason I am dismissive of what you have said, most likely, is that I've seen Lleyton doing amazing things, and this isn't remotely one of them. And it just makes me want to ask "How long have you been following tennis?"

Again, it's a total disservice to Lleyton. Do you all remember when he beat Roger after being down two sets to love in Davis Cup, and he came back? Now that is mental toughness!!! And he has shown it many times, but not to the point where we have to applaud his first round win against Spadea. IMO, anyway.
 
VamosRafa said:
None of the above. In fact, I'm very good friends with the webmistress for Hewitt's website, http://www.lleytonhewitt.biz/, and we had a lovely e-mail exchange today about many things. We met each other in 2001. I went to Melbourne for the Davis Cup final, and she and her husband invited me to spend time with them in Sydney. Which I did, and then we went on to Melbourne.

So I'm very familiar with Lleyton and his Davis Cup history (in fact I saw his prior heroics, in person, in Barcelona, 2000, and Nice 1999). And I don't disagree with the major premise; I just disagree with how it's being presented here.

If anything, it's demeaning to Leyton.
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Good to hear that you're friends with Hewitt's web site webmistress and her husband; they sound like very nice people. And that you've seen Hewitt play Davis Cup in person.

If you disagree with how the OP's point is being presented, perhaps you could say so more directly -- without the sarcasm and the dismissive tone. Surely the way you chose to disagree (poo-pooing Hewitt's win and the Sydney tournament) spoke less-than-well of you -- and demeaned Lleyton to boot?!

And if you've seen LLeyton tough a match out better, then tell us about that.

I'm not trying to pick a fight with you. There is a little too much sarcasm and superior attitude (and all manner of other things) going on around here. It would be nice to see people be more direct about their disagreements and leave it at that -- rather than use indirect methods of expression, which are rather like lobbing grenades over the fence, almost sure to provoke counterattack and counter-counterattack, etc., etc.
 
VamosRafa said:
They would, because Hewitt is a top ranked player, and Spadea isn't -- he isn't even in the Top 50.

There's a reason the Top ranked players are top ranked, and Hewitt showed that today. But nothing out of the ordinary for a top-ranked player. He didn't have to leap any tall buildings. He just did what most to players have to do to get a W at the end of any tournament -- beat a lower ranked player in the first round, and he did that, regardless of how either of them felt during the match.

So what's the big deal? Now it may impact how he does in later rounds, if he isn't 100%. But that's a different issue.

But the reason I am dismissive of what you have said, most likely, is that I've seen Lleyton doing amazing things, and this isn't remotely one of them. And it just makes me want to ask "How long have you been following tennis?"

Again, it's a total disservice to Lleyton. Do you all remember when he beat Roger after being down two sets to love in Davis Cup, and he came back? Now that is mental toughness!!! And he has shown it many times, but not to the point where we have to applaud his first round win against Spadea. IMO, anyway.
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According to Coria, its unparalleled mental toughness for a former #1 player after winning a 1st round encounter against a player who is not even in top 50....now that's priceless!
 
All pros train to play stress shots. Hewitt's not an all time tough player. He may have been incredibly tough in that match. Every player has their own highlights and glory moments...
 
Kiefers, I think I answered your inquries above. And I have to admit, my superior tone is indeed generated by seeing Lleyton doing some amazing stuff over the years -- including being a major reason the USA wasn't in contention for the Davis Cup in 1999. The stuff that kid produced in Davis CUp in the late 90's was amazing.

And he went on to finish two years No. 1, win a couple slams, etc., and he has earned the title of being one of most mentally tough players out there, no doubt.

But he hasn't done anything for a bit, and I'm sure he will shortly, but he'll have to do more than beat Spadea in the first round in Sydney.

But perhaps I'm wrong? And this shows that he is destined for motr greatness???
 
VamosRafa said:
Kiefers, I think I answered your inquries above. And I have to admit, my superior tone is indeed generated by seeing Lleyton doing some amazing stuff over the years -- including being a major reason the USA wasn't in contention for the Davis Cup in 1999. The stuff that kid produced in Davis CUp in the late 90's was amazing.

And he went on to finish two years No. 1, win a couple slams, etc., and he has earned the title of being one of most mentally tough players out there, no doubt.

But he hasn't done anything for a bit, and I'm sure he will shortly, but he'll have to do more than beat Spadea in the first round in Sydney.
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Sincerely, I appreciate your sharing that you've seen him do really amazing things over the years and that (my conjecture) you're disappointed he hasn't performed as well recently. And that's why you don't think winning first round in Sydney against Spadea is anything amazing to rave about. Fair enough.

VamosRafa said:
But perhaps I'm wrong? And this shows that he is destined for motr greatness???
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A little more sarcasm here? ;) Or am I wrong? ;) (No probs if it is.)
 
Thanks, Kiefers. But I'm used to being subjected to people who are far more sarcastic and who call me on it time and time again. And in a much more personal way, so I didn't see my post as being that in any way shape for form.

I just said what I believe, based on the facts, and I stand by them.

And I think you, Steve and Coria would be well served by looking at the ATP history and getting your facts straight before casting stones at people who do. It would give you more credibility.

PS: I run Rafael Nadal's site. Do you think I'm that disappointed about how Hewitt has done? Again, getting your facts straight and seeing the lay of land around here wouldn't hurt you and a few others around here, I might add.
 
Agree with the poster's main premise here: Hewitt is one of the best fighters in tennis, maybe ever. But I agree that the poster's evidence--this specific match--is perhaps not the best example (unless there are some details about his performance yesterday that we're all still missing).

But, you know, I do feel that Lleyton has looked a little like he's given up a bit during his last couple of matches with Fed. I was encouraged to hear that he really wants to find a way to beat him this year.
 
VamosRafa said:
Yep, a win over Spadea in the first round of an event in your home country is a huge one.

Hello???

Hewitt is a former No. 1 player, and is still in the Top 5. He's playing in his home country and now home town (Sydney), and we need to say how mentally tough he is to beat Vince Spadea in the first round??
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I thought Lleyton was from Adelaide
 
edberg505 said:
I thought Lleyton was from Adelaide
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He is, but I believe he and Bec have bought a home in Sydney.

But the Hewitt fans here will know more about that, I'm sure. ;-)
 
Hewitt, I don't know. He always seems to be sick with something. He always looks sickly and ready to fall apart. I get the feeling he's going down early in the Aussie Open. But if he makes a deep run, then I'll agree that he's a mental warhorse.
 
superman1 said:
Hewitt, I don't know. He always seems to be sick with something. He always looks sickly and ready to fall apart. I get the feeling he's going down early in the Aussie Open. But if he makes a deep run, then I'll agree that he's a mental warhorse.
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There you have it, from someone who has no clue what Lleyton has done in the past, and doesn't care. It's all about the future, in Aus. And if so, I agree, Lleyton did well to get by Vince today. So he stays alive in Sydney, and who knows, may stay healthy enough to book a date with Federer at AO. But he has a tough row to hoe before then.
 
Someone who has no clue? I don't understand, speak English. Hewitt always makes deep runs, Federer is the only one to stop him, but he's feeling sick a week before the Australian and he just had a baby. If he makes a deep run this time around, then I agree that he's mentally one of the toughest in the game.

And he has a history of sickness. Just back in Montreal the same thing happened and he had to withdraw. Yeah, I don't know anything and I don't care...
 
superman1 said:
Someone who has no clue? I don't understand, speak English. Hewitt always makes deep runs, Federer is the only one to stop him, but he's feeling sick a week before the Australian and he just had a baby. If he makes a deep run this time around, then I agree that he's mentally one of the toughest in the game.
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What slam did Lleyton win last year? Federer stopped him there. But, sink me, didn't some other players win the remaining slams, without Hewitt being around?

Yes, they were Federer and Nadal, but Lleyton wasn't in the finals that I recall. And he's been a non-entity for quite some time.

Again, Hewitt fans, please jump in here; it's hard for me, as I don't tend to focus in Lleyton's triumphs these days. *lol*
 
I want Rafa to beat Hewitt, Ljubicic, Safin and Federer.

Did I mention how much I love Rafa to Rafarize those phony, boring guys?!
Rafa Rafa Rafa
 
Australian Open: Hewitt reaches the finals and loses to Safin in 4.
French Open: Hewitt skips it.
Wimbledon: Hewitt reaches the semis and loses to Federer in straights.
US Open: Hewitt reaches the semis and loses to Federer in 4.
 
Wow VamosRafa's winning personality is just endearing her to so many people. Can't say I'm surprised.

And for the record, if you want to agree with the premise that Hewitt is mentally tough, you don't go about it by being condescending to the original poster. Hewitt hasn't played in three months, he wasn't match tough and he was feeling ill on the court--it's a testament to his mental toughness that he was able to pull this match out when he wasn't one hundred percent. At that level of play, if you're even just a little bit off your game anything can happen.
 
devila said:
I want Rafa to beat Hewitt, Ljubicic, Safin and Federer.

Did I mention how much I love Rafa to Rafarize those phony, boring guys?!
Rafa Rafa Rafa
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I know, devila. But I wasn't trying to appeal to you. Just as other fans who visit here by now should know that I'm a dite biased toward Nadal.

But this thread has nothing to do with Rafa, and it shouldn't. The points have been made, and we'll see how Hewitt does in Sydney and later the AO.

I do hope someone gives Fed a run for his money.

But I rather fancy Ljubicic in that role these days. :D

Right, kbg, should have known you would smell blood and come over. But you, too, can jump on the Lube bandwagon for AO.
 
Well seeing you get a long overdue verbal smackdown... I had to indulge in a little schadenfreude of my own.
 
kbg said:
Well seeing you get a long overdue verbal smackdown... I had to indulge in a little schadenfreude of my own.
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And who did I get that smackdown from?

Glad to hear it was overdue, but I'm sorry I missed it. So you can enlighten me, I'm sure.
 
Now I'm annoyed.

By this:
VamosRafa said:
And I think you, Steve and Coria would be well served by looking at the ATP history and getting your facts straight before casting stones at people who do. It would give you more credibility.

PS: I run Rafael Nadal's site. Do you think I'm that disappointed about how Hewitt has done? Again, getting your facts straight and seeing the lay of land around here wouldn't hurt you and a few others around here, I might add.
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And this:
VamosRafa said:
There you have it, from someone who has no clue what Lleyton has done in the past, and doesn't care. It's all about the future, in Aus. And if so, I agree, Lleyton did well to get by Vince today. So he stays alive in Sydney, and who knows, may stay healthy enough to book a date with Federer at AO. But he has a tough row to hoe before then.
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Coria, in his original post, was trying to give Hewitt a compliment, for heaven's sake. And you come along and tell him it's the wrong compliment!

Or, it's too glowing of a compliment because you -- with your superior knowledge of ATP history and Lleyton's Davis Cup history and THE FACTS -- you KNOW he's pulled out tougher matches than this one.

Jeez!!...
 
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