And the tributes kept streaming in.
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“It’s a sad day because Lleyton is finishing his career”.
And from American Sloane Stephens, a simple tweet: “Epic Mate”.
Australia’s Lleyton Hewitt waves to the crowd after defeat against Spain’s David Ferrer in t … “Lleyton fights until the last ball”. He made his Australian Open debut at 15 in 1996 and won a pair of majors at the U.S. Open in 2001 and Wimbledon in 2002. Step up, Hewitt and Sam Groth to win the doubles, and then go on to win the remaining singles rubbers to snatch the tie.
It feels like I’ve played in almost every major city in this great country. His performance this Australian Open was very good. It’s Djokovic’s favourite – but there are plenty of rivals for the Serb. Other players also took to Twitter to congratulate Hewitt on his career: So after 616 wins matches and 878 matches, Hewitt’s career comes to a close. Thursday, he blew out Radek Stepanek 6-2, 6-3, 6-4.
In this context it might seem trite to suggest that Hewitt could harbour any regrets upon retirement; however, the irresistible nature of the baseball-capped, fist-pumping 20-year-old’s rise to the summit of the sport at the turn of the millennium was such that his ultimate trophy-haul cannot help but seem a little underwhelming.
The match officially ended when Ferrer forced his opponent into a backhand miss. Hewitt began to spray balls, ultimately finishing the match with 43 unforced errors.
The No. 13-seeded Raonic, who was a 2014 Wimbledon semifinalist, has never advanced beyond the quarterfinals in Melbourne.
China’s Zhang Shuai had a 27th birthday to remember when she beat Alize Cornet to win only her second ever Grand Slam match, following her sensational upset of second-ranked Simona Halep in the first round.
And Gael Monfils is at it again.
The four-time Australian Open finalist advanced to the third round for the eighth time.
Never before in the Open era had a men’s defending champion lost in the opening round of Wimbledon.
“Yeah, it’s disappointing. I think throwing my name out there with it makes the whole thing an absolute farce”.
“I felt really bad. It keeps me focused”.
At the net, the players had a long conversation.
The 34-year-old Australian bowed out from the senior singles circuit in the second round of the Australian Open, the tournament where he announced his genius to the world in january 1997, just a month shy of his 16th birthday. Keys made it to semifinals in Melbourne previous year, where she lost to eventual champion Serena Williams.
Teenager Osaka gave a bow to thrilled Japanese fans after dumping 18th seed Elina Svitolina 6-4 6-4, continuing her impressive main draw debut at a grand slam. The second round match between Ana Ivanovic of Serbia and L…
Isner has only been past the third round once before in Melbourne. So much so that the shy Spaniard described getting a signed T-shirt of his hero in 2008-the first year that Ferrer broke the top five-and it remains the only “fan” possession in his Spanish home.
“So far it’s been okay”, Wawrinka said. No other details were immediately available.
Misty rain has briefly delayed the start of play on outdoor courts at the Australian Open.
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Met by a standing ovation inside Rod Laver Arena, and playing in his 20th consecutive Australian Open, Hewitt was treated to a hero’s sendoff in a 6-2, 6-4, 6-4 defeat at the hands of No. 8 seed David Ferrer.
