7/23/10 6:26 PM | Johan Lindahl
Lleyton Hewitt seems to have taken a page from the Serena Williams playbook on "secrets," with the Australian refusing to reveal the nature of an injury which he blames for a defeat in Atlanta.
The third seed was dumped out in the second round showing some discomfort by Slovak Lukas Lacko in quick straight sets to start his hardcourt summer off on a low note.
But the 29-year-old Hewitt, who underwent his second hip surgery only last January, would only say he couldn't play at his full potential on the night. He did say he had the problem before arriving in Atlanta for the event which begins the run to next month's start at the US Open.
"On Sunday, I didn't think I'd be able to compete here," said the 2001 Open champion, now ranked 30th. "It was a good effort by the medical staff to be able to get me close to being 100 percent here."
Hewitt, now based in the Bahamas, had the whole team on had in the steaming hot southern city. His traveling party not only included wife Bec Cartwright, pregnant with the couple's third child, but the couple's two children as well as Hewitt's parents, at one-time constant fixtures when their son ruled the sport a decade ago.
Hewitt may not be changing his original playing plan, which was to include time off next week followed by the Washington event from August 2. He also hopes to play the Toronto and Cincinnati Masters prior to the August 30 start of the Open in New York.
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God bless him. He's just like that little energizer bunny, he just keeps on ticking.
Maya , 7/25/10 5:00 AM