Hewitt stalls Agassi comeback

By Joel Hunt

Lleyton Hewitt pipped Andre Agassi at the post in an absorbing final at San Jose, winning 4-6, 7-6 (6), 7-6 (4). Both players were making comebacks, Hewitt from chicken pox which had drained him at the Australian Open and Agassi from a wrist injury. Hewitt continued his good form against Agassi, who he beat as a 16 year old in 1998 to win his first title in Adelaide.

Agassi was the 2001 Australian Open champion, his last grand slam win. Hewitt won his first grand slam at the 2001 US Open. He came out on top in this clash between the old and new.

Agassi is 31 going on 32, and showed in this match that age has hardly affected his game. The fact that he has hired a new coach in Darren Cahill, shows that retirement is far from Agassi's mind. With this attitude, and the form he showed against world number one Hewitt; further grand slam glory seems very possible this year. His return of serve and groundstrokes remain formidable.

Hewitt seems to be a player more in the mould of Micheal Chang. He is primarily a counterpuncher, and won't blow away an opponent as an Agassi can do. But he is very good at what he does.

One question is whether or not he can maintain his level, and particularly his footspeed in the years to come. This certainly appeared to be Chang's failing, starting his career with a bang at the 1989 French Open but declining rapidly from the age of 25.

Hewitt has a champion's mentality, demonstrated by his winning the first ATP event he ever played, and by his demolition job of Pete Sampras in the 2001 US Open final.

The match between Hewitt and Agassi was a classic. Agassi led by a set and 5-2 in the second set tiebreaker. Hewitt saved 2 match points, and went on to win the third set in another thrilling tie-breaker.

Both players are clearly back in form after shaky starts to the year. It remains to be seen when and if the old, represented by Agassi, are ready to give way to the new, such as Hewitt. But it makes for engrossing tennis.

(The source material for this article was ESPN Tennis and the ATP Tour homepage.)

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