Hewitt's ruthless ascent to throne

Chris Jones13 April 2012

Australia's Lleyton Hewitt launched his Grand Slam-winning career at Flushing Meadow by destroying Pete Sampras, the greatest champion the game has ever seen, and then revealed: "This has happened so quickly, I still have the picture from the junior US Open tournament on my pass!"

Fourth seed Hewitt, watched by girlfriend Kim Clijsters, the women's fifth seed, totally outplayed Sampras, who has won a record 13 Slam titles, triumphing 7-6, 6-1, 6-1 in the men's singles final.

The 20-year-old said: "I dreamed of this moment and I can't believe it's happened. I beat the greatest ever player and it may never sink in. It's only four years ago that I was losing in the US Open juniors fourth round and no one wanted to talk to me. I am too young to have a beer here, so I will wait until I get back home to celebrate with one."

Hewitt's win, following Pat Rafter's double success in 1997 and 1998, means that Australians have won three of the last five US Opens and was achieved despite Hewitt's breathing problems. Experts have tried to sort it out and a feeling of breathlessness may be linked to allergies.

Sampras, the 10th seed, was hammered in the final for the second successive year by a 20-year-old who didn't care about his reputation and it is the fist time since 1992 that he has failed to win at least one Slam during the year.

Last year, Russian Marat Safin beat Sampras in straight sets and after Hewitt repeated the dose, the 30-year-old said: "I ran into two guys in the finals who were on fire. Lleyton is so quick and I wish those legs were on this old guy. Last year I was overpowered and this time I was outplayed.

"He is a fighter, has the best wheels and return in the game and will be a contender for the next 10 years. I know the guys out there are getting younger and faster and I have to match that."

Hewitt went from sinner to winner in a week after hitting the headlines in his second-round match against James Blake, when comments about an African American linesman was considered racist by everyone but the young Australian. A subsequent hearing by the ATP cleared Hewitt of that charge, but it highlighted his fiery side.

He admitted: "I am very proud of they way I blocked that pressure out and it shows how mentally tough I have been. I copped a lot of flak for something I didn't mean that way. I was innocent."

This result was one of the worst beatings anyone has taken in US Open history. Hewitt was remarkable, hammering backhand winners across court with precision and power and it was fitting that the last point of a desperately one-sided final came from that potent weapon.

Sampras, who had to beat former US Open champions Andre Agassi, Pat Rafter and Safin just to get into the final, tried to mix up his game and paid the price. He was unable to hit through the swirling wind and committed 17 unforced errors while losing the opening set tie break 7-4.

Hewitt averaged only 99mph with his first serve but lost just three points with it as he raced into a 2-0 lead courtesy of a 6-1 set with 81 minutes played. It included just one unforced error to Sampras's 11.

It was difficult to accept that this was the same Sampras who had held his serve 87 times leading up to the final. Sampras was broken yet again in the opening game of the third set - a third successive break. The pattern-continued until Sampras was put out of his misery after 1hr 54mins.

Meanwhile, it took the mother of Venus and Serena Williams to pinpoint the reason for the straight sets win that allowed her eldest daughter to register back-to-back Wimbledon and US Open title successes.

Venus's 6-2, 6-4 win in 69 minutes showed that a gulf still exits between the sisters despite both making it to the final.

Although Oracene Williams admitted she was pulling for her youngest daughter in the final she said: "Venus just played beautifully. She's a night person. She was awake.

"Serena did not play her best. I think she wasn't as focused. It's a sibling thing, and it always has been. Venus is more mature. Serena is still a little raw. Venus plays smart.

"The wind bothered Serena a little more than Venus. And they were playing each other, which was kind of strange. I was trying to give Serena a little edge. I was hoping Serena would win the second set for a little competition. I was just trying to encourage her to pick it up."

It never happened, and perhaps it won't until the girls fall out over clothes or a boyfriend. This potentially outstanding series of battles between the sisters is undermined by their deep love for each other. "I don't feel like I won it," was Venus's reaction and she spent the postmatch presentation period telling Serena how much she loved her.

While this is wonderful for those who like happy families, for those who yearn for a real contest between the sisters then we will have to wait for something to give their relationship an edge. At the moment they care so much, neither really wants to hammer the other and that offers hope to players such as Jennifer Capriati and Lindsay Davenport.

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