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4/13/09 1:50 AM | Kelli DeMario
Former No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt secures his 27th ATP World Tour title, defeating Wayne Odesnik at the US Men’s Clay Court Championships on Sunday.
Lleyton Hewitt snaps a two-year stretch without winning a title, dismissing American Wayne Odesnik in Houston on Sunday afternoon. Prior to Sunday’s matchup, the veteran Australian had not reached beyond the quarterfinal round of any event he played in 2008. Hewitt, plagued by a nagging hip injury throughout most of last year, pockets his first title since he won the Las Vegas tournament in 2007.
Hewitt jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first set, taking advantage of two costly backhand errors from Odesnik. The American clawed his way back to 3-2, snagging a service break on a netted volley from the Australian. Hewitt, missing a slew of first serves, watched his first serve percentage plummet to a poor 33% midway during the set. He regrouped to strike two aces on break points, regaining a 4-2 lead. The former world No. 1 grabbed an insurance break on a forehand error from Odesnik to reach 5-2.
Odesnik looked to turn the match around, digging out of a 0-3 hole in the second set. The American survived a marathon game at 3-1, saving five break points. Hewitt then dropped his level of play, surrendering serve and a two-break lead on a costly backhand error, falling to 3-3. Odesnik, in position to even the match, won five consecutive games to reach 5-3. The American, broken for a sixth time, could not sustain the momentum, turning in three critical forehand errors. Hewitt collected four games in a row, closing out the set and the match 7-5.
Hewitt gains 250 ranking points after notching the tournament victory, along with his second career title on clay. The 28-year-old won his first in 1999 at the event in Delray Beach.
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sstay: I second that. It's an amazing and courageous come back. He must be feeling very happy to be playing this well after the prolonged period with the hip problem and subsequent surgery. With the results he has had so far against good players, once he is back to full match-sharpness he is going to cause headaches for the guys in the top 10.
ed251137 , 4/13/09 12:01 PM
Juan Carlos Ferrero and Lleyton Hewitt winning titles in the same week. Amazing. In 2003? Sure. In 2009? Shocking.
RickyDimon , 4/13/09 8:27 PM
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This is wonderful. Really pleased for Lleyton. Hope this will be the start of his resurgence.
sstay , 4/13/09 3:52 AM