Help
5/3/09 12:30 PM | Johan Lindahl
Former No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt is at the mercy of Spanish organisers if he's to get a chance to play in the last major event prior to the French Open, the Madrid Masters starting next Sunday.
The Australian has copped a break next week with a wild card into Munich after Tommy Haas was elevated into the main draw. Hewitt has been cooling his heels in Europe after the recent Davis Cup drama which resulted in India being given a walkover in the tie, due to have been played next weekend.
Hewitt's management is hoping that his status as a former No.1 might count for something in the new Madrid clay event, but with tournament impresario Ion Tiriac is also a manager, wildcards so far have gone to his players including Juan Carlos Ferrero and Croat Ivan Ljubicic.
"We thought he might be a chance in Rome as well, but they gave the wildcards to four Italians," said Hewitt's handlers. "It happens in most places, they tend to look after their own."
The world No. 53, who stood outside the top 100 before winning a clay title in Houston last month, currently holds a ranking which keeps him just outside of direct entry into the Masters 1000 events.
But the 28-year-old also has no points to defend leading into the start at Roland Garros in three weeks and his camp seems somewhat satisfied. "It's just frustrating that with Madrid and Rome that his ranking wasn't high enough to get into those directly," said his manager.
"But he's got the French, he's got Queen's, he's got Wimbledon, and then after that it's a free hit, more or less, because he's not defending anything."
Hewitt is expected to play a full schedule in the second half of year year in his attempt to return to the elite.
Tell a friend »
out of "courtesy", former #1s should be given a wild card entry to these important tournaments. We all know how difficult it is to get into that position, so as a "compliment" to their contribution to tennis, it's just appropriate to give them such a priviledge.
agf25agf , 5/3/09 2:03 PM
i agree agf, it's such a pity how the organizers treat leyton, a former #1. i wish him luck.
danny , 5/3/09 8:21 PM
His handler's comment about how the 4 wildcards went to 4 Italians instead of at least one to him was telling. I wonder which ones got the wildcards and what ranking they were. Organizers seemed more concerned with money than with tennis. Hewitt has many fans and has proven himself as a tennis player.
fan4tennis , 5/3/09 11:26 PM
Scan QR code to access Unibet mobile.
Bet on Sports wherever you are and whenever you like, with Unibet's quick and simple mobile client you can place bets, check results and see live odds.
For more info about QR codes & scanners click here.
Contact us
/ About us
/ Cookies
/ Recommended links
/ Advertise
/ Sitemap
Tennistalk v1.5.0
Disclaimer © 2001-2012, Moneytainment Media Ltd - All rights reserved
dog-eat-dog
remi , 5/3/09 1:47 PM