Retiring Hewitt bows out of Wimbledon a fighter once again

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  • Over and out: Hewitt.

    Lleyton Hewitt’s Wimbledon career came to an end on Monday in the only way he knows how to – fighting deep into the fifth set before succumbing 3‑6, 6‑3, 4‑6, 6‑0, 11‑9 to Finland’s Jarkko Nieminen in the first round.

    The two-time grand slam champion and ex-world No1 played his very last singles match at the All England Club – where he triumphed in 2002 – having announced he will be retiring after the 2016 Australian Open.

    From fighting back, to diving volleys, to squandering a final set lead, the match felt like it told the story of Hewitt’s career – a career that placed him as one of the game’s greatest ever competitors.

     “I was always going to leave it out there, everything I had in the tank. I certainly did that,” said Hewitt, whose 128-40 win-loss record on grass makes him the second most successful active player on the surface behind Roger Federer.

    “I didn’t leave any stone unturned preparing. But also on the match court today. There was a couple of times the match could have gotten away from me at certain stages and I found a way of hanging in there.

    “In the end obviously disappointing to lose. I would have loved to have played Novak (Djokovic) in the next round. But Jarkko is a tough competitor and it was never going to be easy.”

    Knowing it was his last Wimbledon, Hewitt said he has done everything to soak it all up. He went to Centre Court on Sunday and sat in the stands staring at the turf that witnessed his greatest success.

    “Coming back knowing that it’s your last time competing, I’m fortunate that I can have that opportunity to do that. I have tried to soak it up,” said the 34-year-old Aussie.

    Nick Kyrgios, one of the young Australians looking to take the baton from Hewitt moving forward, paid tribute to Hewitt and the legacy he will leave behind.

    “I think he’s huge,” said Kyrgios, who beat Diego Schwartzman 6-0, 6-2, 7-6 (6). 

    “His attitude and competitiveness I think is second to none. Maybe Rafa (Nadal) and him are the greatest competitors of all time. When you got him still playing Davis Cup, leading the charge, I think when he’s training and you watch that, it’s pretty special. I think it carries a little bit towards us guys.”

    There were mixed results for the remaining Aussies yesterday with teenager Thanasi Kokkinakis still suffering from the aftermath of a stomach bug, falling to Leonardo Mayer 7‑6 (7), 7‑6 (3), 6‑4, while former quarter-finalist Bernard Tomic beat Jan-Lennard Struff 6-3, 3-6, 2-6, 6-2, 6-3.

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