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4/30/09 11:52 PM | Johan Lindahl
Lleyton Hewitt's request for a wildcard entry has been knocked back at next week's new Serbia Open, with the free entry instead going to Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis.
The decision leaves former No. 1 Australian desperately short of match practice on clay with his only big chance the Madrid Masters starting May 11. The event, originally indoors in October, ends six days before the start of the French Open.
Hewitt started with promise on the dirt last month, winning on clay in Houston but going out jet-lagged in the first round two days later in Monte-Carlo.
He was originally due to have played for Australia in a Davis Cup zonal tie this weekend against India in Chennai, Australia refused to attend for security fears. The ITF awarded a walkover to India.
With his schedule clear, the world No. 53 didn't have the ranking for entry to this week's Rome Masters and had been hoping to play next week in Novak Djokovic's new tournament in Belgrade.
The card instead went to Marcos Baghdatis, who beat Djokovic in the Australian Open fourth round in a match finishing well past midnight. Also missing out along with Hewitt were 2004 French Open champion Gaston Gaudio and former world No. 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero.
Djokovic remains the only Top 10 player in the field at an event which also competes with Estoril and Munich as the clay circuit builds towards Roland Garros.
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ed- I never read about baggie talking about retirement and he is only 23(or 24?). Where did you hear such a thing?
orion , 5/2/09 1:33 PM
That's a pity, Hewitt could have used the extra practice. I'm surprised Baggie got picked over Ferrero and Hewitt.
Marcos announced retirement??? Really??? When? Where? Why?
remi , 5/2/09 5:22 PM
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Why was Baghdatis (who by the way I thought had announced his retirement) chosen over Hewitt et al?
ed251137 , 5/2/09 9:21 AM