TENNIS WIMBLEDON 2014 – 27th of June. J. Janowicz d. L. Hewitt 7-5, 6-4, 6-7, 4-6, 6-3. An interview with Lleyton Hewitt
Q. As you look back now, do you see the chance at the start of the fifth, do you see that as the pivotal part of the match?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, if I got a second serve, I’m pretty sure I would have broken at that stage. I was on top of his second serve. He started hitting his first serve a lot harder through the fifth set. He made an incredible amount of them.
But, yeah, if I got a second serve or was able to get some kind of ball back into play over the service line and actually make him come up with a tough shot, you know, I felt like he was getting a little tight on his service games.
When you got a serve like that, he can open up on my service games and let it rip, and that’s what he did.
Q. You gave a wave to the crowd at the end of the match. Standard wave? It wasn’t a wave good-bye for good?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, I don’t know. You never know. I’m one injury away from hanging up the bats at any time. Obviously you appreciate the support out there today.
Q. Does that make you try to appreciate the moments like today a bit more?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Not really ’cause when you’re out there in battle, you’re doing what comes naturally to you. Nothing changes.
I’m focused on every single point. As soon as anything else starts entering your mind, you know, you might as well walk inside, you’re done.
Q. Talking about your fitness and your health, it’s good now. Are you looking forward?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, the body felt fine out there which is, you know, obviously a positive thing. But, you know, still frustrating to walk off the court feeling fine, feeling like you could have bounced back and played another fiveb#setter tomorrow. But you don’t get the opportunity.
Yeah, you know, with all that, what I’ve been through, the surgeries, it’s going okay at the moment.
Q. Is your mind when you get that close to someone who is top 20, does it give you the belief it’s still worth keeping playing because you’re so close?
LLEYTON HEWITT: It’s not something I really focus on. I’m playing for my own reasons.
Yeah, I know when I play my best tennis, I can still go out there and push guys, especially on this kind of surface over five sets. It’s not something going into this tournament or this match that I doubted, so…
Q. Before you said you were playing for your own reasons. Can you put into words what your reasons are for keeping going?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Well, I still enjoy it. I still enjoy doing the hard work. For moments out there like today, to play five-setters against the best guys in the world.
But, yeah, obviously when I’ve had the surgeries, I’ve missed it as well when you have been out. I think in some ways the last couple years I’ve been grateful I’ve been able to come back, especially after the last surgery where I didn’t really think I’d be able to go out there and compete against the guys again.
Yeah, there’s satisfaction in doing that.
Q. I believe you set a new record today for most fiveb#set matches in slams. Are you proud of that accomplishment? What is it that makes you keep digging deep in those circumstances?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, I’ll have to take your word on that because I wouldn’t have a clue on the record.
Yeah, I’d much rather win in three or four sets than go the distance all the time. I seem to put everyone through the wringer quite a bit.
Q. What are your plans between now and the U.S.? Do you feel you need more tennis or less tennis?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, I’ll play a few tournaments leading into the U.S. I’ll sit down and work out what schedule I want to get as many matches as I feel like I need.
I won’t be playing every week.
Q. The grass court season going an extra week next year…
LLEYTON HEWITT: I wouldn’t make my decision whether I keep playing or not just on that for sure. But, obviously, I would have loved it 10 years ago. It’s always so tough and such a short period to adjust and play on grass.
Yeah, a lot of guys are playing a lot better on grass I think. There’s a lot more guys that can play on this surface as you see in the draws nowadays. But I think it’s a good things.
Q. With Nick’s success and a couple other young guys coming through, what is your sense where the Davis Cup team might be over the next 18 months?
LLEYTON HEWITT: Yeah, I don’t know. Obviously a lot depends on draws. Right now we got to get through our playoff match. That’s the only focus we have for September, then we wait and see on the draw.
We’re not going to be seeded in the World Group for a long time until we start making semis and finals again. We could be playing Spain in Spain. Brutal draws out there.
