Al-Ahram Weekly | Sports

		11 - 17 July 2002 Issue No. 594 Sports	Current issue Previous issue Site map
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A real ripper

IF THERE were ever any doubts about Lleyton Hewitt's status as the world's top player, there aren't any more.
The 21-year-old Australian crushed David Nalbandian in straight sets Sunday in the Wimbledon final to win his second Grand Slam title, solidify his No 1 ranking and confirm the changing of the guard in men's tennis.
In a tournament where aging former champions Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi lost in the second round, Hewitt swept through the draw without a hitch and put on a ruthless performance to win 6-1, 6-3, 6-2 in under two hours.
The match shaped up as a mismatch: the top-seeded Hewitt against No 28 Nalbandian, a 20-year-old Argentine playing in his first grass court tournament and his first match on Centre Court.
Hewitt never wavered, whipping his ground strokes with power and precision, dictating the points, making very few errors. Nalbandian couldn't cope with the occasion or Hewitt's supremacy, making countless unforced errors.
After the victory, Hewitt climbed up through the stands to the guest box, emulating the celebrations of Pat Cash, the last Australian to win Wimbledon in 1987.
With an Australian flag draped around his shoulders, he paraded around the court showing off the Challenge Cup trophy to the crowd. "I kept looking at the scoreboard to see if it was real," Hewitt said. "It's an unbelievable feeling. I always dreamed that some day I would be playing for this trophy."
"Now this is a real ripper," he said, using an Australian expression meaning, "This is great."
Hewitt, who won the US Open last September, has now added the most prestigious title in tennis to his resume and validated his legitimacy as the top dog in the game.
And he did it without any of the controversy which has dogged his career: no tantrums, no abrasive behaviour, no tirades at umpires or line judges.
Hewitt, who dropped only two sets in the tournament, seemed to come of age both on and off the court.
What's more, he became the first baseliner to win Wimbledon since 1992.
It was the most one-sided final in terms of fewest games won by the loser since John McEnroe beat Jimmy Connors 6-1, 6-1, 6-2 in 1984.
In the women's final: first the No 1 ranking, then the Wimbledon title. Venus Williams has now relinquished both to little sister Serena.
The balance of power in the Williams family has shifted, and Venus may have trouble regaining the upper hand.
"It's not fun losing, no matter who you lose to," Venus said after Saturday's 7-6 (4), 6-3 defeat in the women's final of Wimbledon. "It's not something that I'm going to get used to or try to adjust to because I'm not one for losing often."
The 22-year-old Venus had won 20 straight matches at Wimbledon and was one win away from becoming the first woman to capture three consecutive titles since Steffi Graf in 1991-93.
But she was thoroughly outplayed by 20- year-old Serena, who dictated the points and had Venus -- usually the aggressor -- running from side to side and playing defensive shots to keep the ball in play.
Venus beat Serena in the US Open final last September but she has since lost three straight to her sister, including the French Open final last month.
Venus still has more Grand Slam titles than Serena (four to three) and holds a career edge in head-to-head matches (five to four). But Serena is clearly in command now.
"It's great to see Serena doing well because for a while there she wasn't doing her best," Venus said. "I didn't think she was doing the best that she could do. Now I think she has to feel better that she's taken full advantage of her career."
Venus dropped to No 2 behind Serena in the new tour rankings. Asked whether she expects to be No 1 again, Venus said, "Well, that's what I'm here for, to be on top, not trying to linger around at No 2. But I've done my personal best this year. I don't think I could do more."

Lleyton Hewitt's status

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