TOUGH TOMIC: BERNIE SALUTES GRITTY HEWITT
BERNARD Tomic clinched victory in a blockbuster fiveset all-Australian showdown that ended Lleyton Hewitt’s US Open singles career.
The marathon 3½-hour match propelled Tomic into the third round – a milestone the rising star has never before reached.
It was a battle of mentor versus protege. The former world No.1 – a man with grit, experience and form – taking on Australia’s current highest ranked men’s player, 12 years his junior.
The pair – who practice and train together religiously – had never met before on court at a tournament. And when they finally did, it was gruelling.
Tomic jumped out of the blocks to steal the first two sets easily. Hewitt seemed without hope but somehow dug deep in the third set and showed his trademark grit, fighting back to claim the next two sets.
Hewitt said that ability to fight back was a quality he hoped to pass on to the other young Australians.
“I was able somehow to find a way. That’s what I’ve been renowned for in my career. If I can instil a bit of that especially into the three promising young guys on the way up – that’s just another positive.”
Tomic ultimately saved two match points in the fifth set, rallying back from the brink to steal the match, 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 5-7, 7-5.
Tomic, who will now go head to head with 12th in the world Richard Gasquet, said there was a time in his career when he would have just switched off when he was down in the final set.
“Whereas before I switched off when I was younger, I think now my approach when I’m losing is just go for it. Be a little more aggressive,” he said.
The crowd was firmly behind Hewitt. Once considered a kid with attitude, Hewitt was last night a hero in the eyes of a packed grandstand stadium who cheered his every point.
Tomic said he knew the crowd was with Hewitt – and he would have been as a spectator as well.
“It was the first time for me where it was an Australian crowd but it was all for Lleyton,” Tomic said.
“It was tough. But it was his last US Open. If I was a spectator I would be in the same position for sure.”
Tomic described the match as “emotional” for both he and Hewitt.
When they met at the net at the end, Tomic had words with his hero.
“I said – ‘why did you have to come back’?” Tomic said.
“In my mind I thought he won that match. It was very emotional for us. I’m very good friends with him. It’s not easy.”