Comments on: Lleyton Hewitt – so wrongly maligned

By: roxannatas

roxannatas — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 07:43:09 +0000

Very Australian of him. My rating of him has gone up.

By: Ray Dixon

Ray Dixon — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 05:41:44 +0000

Well, ‘Little Lleyton’ was fantastic last night/this morning against Roddick. It could have gone either way. He handled himself pretty well too although I think I heard him scream “F*CK” at one stage (or two).

By: rox

rox — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 01:22:04 +0000

oh God – ArthUr.

By: rox

rox — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 01:21:30 +0000

Nobody will ever outclass Arther Ashe.

By: Brokenleftleg

Brokenleftleg — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:37:13 +0000

I don’t think aggasi had any other hair options at the end of his career. Little Layton hasn’t grown up.
Rafter? now that guy had a great game and was humble.

By: Ray Dixon

Ray Dixon — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:29:40 +0000

Watch him now then. He’s not displaying anything I can see that’s objectionable. What’s he gotta do, shave his head like Agassi?

By: Baldrick

Baldrick — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:16:42 +0000

So there is hope for Hewitt. He is destined to grow up one day like Agassi did. Feel better for that. When that day comes, I’ll start to watch him.

By: Ray Dixon

Ray Dixon — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 10:36:43 +0000

Perhaps ‘battler’ doesn’t get across what I’m saying. How about ‘fighter’? Hewitt has always had to fight because he’s outclassed in tennis ability. But it’s his fight (or battling) that lifts him to match it with the best.

Btw, Agassi was only a ‘class act’ in his later career. He was the original punk & brat. A real impertinent little so and so, until he grew up. Much worse than Hewitt.

By: Ray Dixon

Ray Dixon — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 10:29:08 +0000

I mean he’s a battler in terms of tennis natural ability. Of course he’s not a commercial battler, he’s been successful – because he’s a battler.

By: Brokenleftleg

Brokenleftleg — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 10:10:40 +0000

“Battler”?
Battlers don’t commercialise their lives by flogging off their milestones to vacuumous chick mags.
He’s a bogan who can play tennis.
Agassi and Federa. Class acts.

By: Ray Dixon

Ray Dixon — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 08:54:32 +0000

Sorry BLL, I’m with Sarah on this. Well said, I think he’s not liked because he’s someone who puts so much into his game that he comes over as a bit obnoxious.

The other stuff BLL mentions, well most of that was a long time ago, except for the ‘Come ons’, but I don’t mind those, he’s just pumping himself up.

Have a look at him – he’s not a ‘natural’ like Borg or Rafter, he’s a battler, in tennis terms. I thought Aussies supported “battlers”?

By: Brokenleftleg

Brokenleftleg — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 08:21:24 +0000

He’s great, if you can look beyond the racist comments, spastic comments, stupid “c’mon” at volume 13, idiotic celebrations and the fact he acts like a 13 year old brat in general.

And then there are the fans in yellow with their Aussie Aussie Aussie shite

CMORRRRRRRN Roddick, please win.

By: sarah

sarah — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 08:04:43 +0000

Any other country would embrace Hewitt, but us Aussies like our tennis players to be like Pat Rafter, all matey and bland. People forget that Hewitt has been in the spotlight since he was 16 and the media always jumped on him for any little transgression which was blown out of proportion. Saying c’mon as far as I’m concerned is not the end of the world. Off court you never hear a word about him, no scandals or drunken nights unlike many other Aussie sportsmen. Everyone that knows him personally say he’s a great guy and don’t have a bad word to say about him. I hope he wins tonight, but it will be tough, regardless of the outcome, I admire him and appreciate his contribution to Australian tennis.

By: Ray Dixon

Ray Dixon — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 06:46:19 +0000

Oh yeah, there are gentlemen & introverts in all sports. Rafter was a gentleman, Borg was just … well he was just so quiet & shy that he wouldn’t say boo.

But realistically you can’t expect them all to be the same. It does require a fair bit of testostrene & aggression to succeed beyond your natural capabilities and I’d suggest Hewitt has used that in his case. Overall I think he’s matured. Don’t forget he burst onto the scene as a little 16 year old and he’s always had to fight above his weight.

By: Baldrick

Baldrick — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 06:41:37 +0000

Remember the robot that was Bjorn Borg. Admired him to the max for his self control. Never stopped him thrashing everyone. My memory of Pat Rafter was that he was more than competitive without being a prat.

By: Ray Dixon

Ray Dixon — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 06:32:00 +0000

Maria ‘Shout’apova went out in first round so that’s something at least. Although I like to look at her.

By: JB

JB — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 06:17:44 +0000

I hate that screaming from the women players everytime they hit the ball. That is far more annoying that anything Hewitt has done.

By: Ray Dixon

Ray Dixon — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 06:02:49 +0000

I do like him, JB, despite the fact he’s a Crows supporter.

Easier said than done, Baldrick. I wouldn’t class Hewitt’s behaviour as moronic or boofish. As for robots, well Pete ‘weirdo’ Sampras comes to mind. So does Ivan ‘the terrible’ Lendl.

By: Baldrick

Baldrick — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 03:52:05 +0000

Agree with Rox. Can’t stand the little shite but do admire his fighting spirit. To be fair I haven’t seen him play for some time and I will never watch him play, even if he plays in the final.

To put this all in context I admire tennis players who are/were able to control themselves, the players others touted as robotic. Imagine the inner strength to destroy players, come back from the death and win “gracefully” without histrionics and moronic behaviour. That’s class.

By: Roxannatas

Roxannatas — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 03:26:57 +0000

He used to be a bit of a pain, but you have to admire his tenacity. He never gives up. Good on him, and I hope he wins tonight.