Book Excerpt: “Facing Hewitt”

[scoop]

Here’s an excerpt from my book “Facing Hewitt” which is now available at Amazon.com. “It just blew my mind.” Taylor Dent: “I saw him in the juniors. W
[See the full post at: Book Excerpt: “Facing Hewitt”]

 

[Fiero425]

Funny, even though the picture on the book looks like Hewitt, I thought of Vitas Gerulaitis at the same time! ;-)   :scratch: 

 

[scoop]

Good observation ) it really does look like Vitas -- hadn't noticed that -- what a marathon battle those two would have put on, was told iron man Vitas could literally play tennis all day long -- and Hewitt would surely have been there with him every step of the way -

 

[Billie]

What I will always remember about Hewitt is his fighting spirit.  He could be intimidating even if the other guys across the net looked bigger than him.

 

[scoop]

Sanguinetti called him a "lion" - Gambill said he plays tennis with the mindset of a boxer - those are very high praises - agree Hewitt was intimidating to other players - he had an aura of invincibility - my friend the boxer Andrew Golota told me once on the phone when he sees Hewitt on TV, he said he looks like he wants to fight the opponent - accurate observation - Hewitt was that intense - during his heyday - he softened with maturity -

 

[Billie]

I agree, Hewitt softened as he matured, but perhaps his injuries took a lot out of his fighting spirits.  Even now there are matches or parts of the matches where he looks his old self, ready to "punch".   He will be a good DC captain, as intense as he was as a young player, no doubt.

 

[scoop]

Or as he got older with more distractions and empathy - his court demeanor softened - early in his career Hewitt was obviously all in on his tennis - with maturity and family that laser focus and freakish desire lost energy and lost focus - and as we know tennis is a game of fractions --

 

[britbox]

Sanguinetti called him a “lion” – Gambill said he plays tennis with the mindset of a boxer – those are very high praises – agree Hewitt was intimidating to other players – he had an aura of invincibility – my friend the boxer Andrew Golota told me once on the phone when he sees Hewitt on TV, he said he looks like he wants to fight the opponent – accurate observation – Hewitt was that intense – during his heyday – he softened with maturity –

Hey @scoop - I know you love boxing but didn't know you were friendly with Andrew Golota.  What an enigma he was!

 

[Moxie]

Lleyton was honored at the YEC:

Read it here.

Everyone says that Lleyton "softened."  I have to say that it means he became less of a jerk, because he really could be, in his heyday.  But I think the competitive intensity remained, which is the part of him that I admire.  Obviously, as a fan of Nadal, I admire players that leave it all on the court.  A couple of late-wins by Lleyton that stunned me, and likely a few others, were when he beat Roger in Halle in 2010, and Brisbane in 2014.  I had long ago counted Hewitt out, though apparently, he never counted himself out.  He did burn bright and fast, and suffered injuries, but he has had the fire-in-the-belly to the end.  I think he's still playing the AO this year, and then will retire?