Lleyton Hewitt had not won a match against a top ten opponent in more than two years, make that his last 40 attempts! On Day Four, all that changed and changed in a big, impressive way. With a 2 hour 30 minute Centre Court 6-3, 7-5, 7-5 thumping of the fifth seed, Juan Martin del Potro, Hewitt kept Australia’s one-man Wimbledon show alive.

When Rafael Nadal withdrew from Wimbledon, Juan Martin del Potro moved from his fifth seed to fill the reigning champion’s spot at the top of the draw. The top quarter of the gentlemen’s draw is lightly regarded. Del Potro has never been a “clutch” performer. 6th seeded Andy Roddick has not won a Grand Slam since his 2003 US Open. The unseeded Hewitt is the only other player in the quarter with any major silverware having won the US Open way back in 2001 and having championed Wimbledon way back in 2002. While Roddick has resurrected his game, Hewitt has suffered one disappointment after another.

The bookmakers viewed this quarter with quiet reserve. It seemed that whoever the semi-finalist from this group would be, they just might win through attrition. On the other hand, Hewitt and Roddick are experienced. Opportunity was knocking and they were not about to blink.

Buoyed by a cluster of Aussie fans, the 10-year tour veteran and past-prime 28-year old, came from the locker room with the look and bounce of a winner. All barrels were firing from the start. With 505 career wins, Juan Martin del Potro had nothing Lleyton Hewitt had not seen before. And, Hewitt had salvos that caught the big Argentine flat footed and in dismay.

Hewitt was charged with energy, quick on the Center Court and charged with an all-out game plan. Lleyton Hewitt was going to do what he has done at every Major Championship. He was going to compete hard and with intent. Every shot would have a purpose. And, if he lost, Juan Martin del Potro would know he had been in a Grand Slam tennis match.

Unlike his previous 40 matches against the world’s greatest players, Mr. Hewitt would show his fans what they came to see; a throwback of sorts. There were no nerves. There were no inconsistencies. Hewitt started fast and never stopped. Del Potro was left to shake his head and wonder “who is that masked man?”

With 14 clean aces and just 3 double faults to go with a measly 14 unforced errors, this looked like the Lleyton Hewitt from a different era. This guy was good; dominant in fact. On this day, a fierce Lleyton Hewitt would not loose his serve until it was 5-4 in the third set.

As del Potro has never bounced back from a two set deficit, the French Open semi-finalist and star-waiting-to-happen had the dazed look of someone who had looked at the future and did not like his chances. The big Argentine was playing not to lose instead of playing to win. In Grand Slam tennis, that just does not get the job done. At Wimbledon, if you blink, you are done.

Juan Martin blinked against Hewitt and the savvy Aussie seized the momentum and never let go. Del Potro, known as an intimidating server registered just 10 aces but tallied four double faults and blasted 24 unforced errors. Those numbers do not measure up against a player of Hewitt’s caliber.

Hewitt was seeing the Argentine’s serve clearly. At times, it seemed like he was at the point of return before the ball landed. Generally characterized as a “feisty” Aussie contender, Lleyton Hewitt officially became a “defiant” contender on Thursday.

So defiant in fact that after losing his serve at 5-4 in the third, he broke right back and then provided the knockout blow by holding convincingly at 6-5, setting off a lively celebration in the Aussie Centre Court corner.

Like Hewitt, Roddick also moved ahead and set fans contemplating the intensity that will most likely accompany the quarterfinal pairing. Roddick bested Hewitt at Queen 7-6, 7-6. A rematch promises hard serving, hard hitting and quick resolution.

Congratulations Mr. Hewitt. A job well done!

Andy Roddick romped to a first round win at Wimbledon as he easily over came Frenchman, Jeremy Chardy, 6-3, 7-6, 4-6, 6-3. It was an encouraging performance for all Roddick fans as there were no signs of the ankle injury that forced him to retire from his semi-final at the Queen’s Club.

The immensely powerful first serve was in full showing and Roddick proved that he has come a long way from previous Wimbledon events with an array of ground strokes and volleys there were quite admirable. The American just had too much power for Chardy to handle and the fitness in a warm heat was also a factor as Roddick progressed easily to the next round.

He said: “I felt like I was playing better than he was for the majority of the match. You know, sometimes you just got to stick those out. He was missing a lot of first serves early on. He really upped his percentages from that point forward, so it became a lot tighter.”

There were glimpses that were brief reminders of the kind of tennis that Roddick was playing when he won the US Open a few years ago and it was nice to see him back on form. If he plays this well again then he should not have a problem progressing to the later stages.

His critics will always say that his game is all about the big powerful serve and the powerful forehand from the baseline but he does have it in him to adapt and get better. He was clearly moving well and it would have been a good work out for him ahead of the later rounds. As he said himself after the game, there is no point in trying to pin point precise players and rounds in the mind because at this stage in his career he is just happy to still be competing against a lot of young players who are flying out of the traps in tournaments all over the world.






In all of the first round matches the top seeds have all looked solid and efficient. It is just a shame that Rafael Nadal is not there to line up along side them all as he would have been on a quest to become one of the very few players to have won back-to-back Wimbledon titles.

Roddick has a long way to go if he wants to hit title-winning form. He is not getting any younger which will not work to his advantage if he has to play again in the sweltering heat like he did yesterday. It will take a lot out of him and put a big strain on his body. It is important to remember that his ankle injury could rear its ugly head again at any point and turn the smiles we saw yesterday into frowns as Roddick fans feel disappointment all over again.

Good spirits and a positive nature will only get you so far in a grand slam event, Roddick will have to raise his level in the next round but it was quite obvious that he is only in second gear at the moment.

When it comes to American tennis, we are stretched pretty thin right now. American men have not won a Grand Slam since Andy Roddick captured the US Open in 2003. Thanks to Andy’s resurgence, we have re-born hope in every event, but even we do not like our betting chances.

This week, we think Andy is well positioned, well composed and ready for a serious run at Juan Martin del Porto to make the semifinals. Then, we shall see. In the meantime, he is King Andy. That is our position and we are sticking to it.

Granted he gave French strongman, 22-year-old Jeremy Chardy, a careless third set, but King Andy had everything in hand. With 21 aces in the two-hour match (6-3, 7-6 (7), 4-6, 6-3), he was in control and had Chardy out of his game from the outset. King Andy is in the mix and ready for a run. Watch out Juan Martin! Watch out Scotsman! Our King will be coming at you.

Fortunately our ladies are more highly regarded. They deserve it. Serena and Venus have the credentials, the experience, the composure and the drive to win Grand Slams. Five time Wimbledon Queen Venus is looking good, looking and acting like royalty. The queen is a good woman.

Tall, slender, fit and moving gracefully from side to side, observers will be hard pressed to find a more likely winner. In just 78 minutes the Queen put down a possible Swiss uprising with her neat 6-3, 6-2 victory over Stephanie Voeqele. It was the Queen’s 12th straight first round Wimbledon triumph.

Our Queen may be the bookmaker’s second choice, but she looks too regal not to get a play. We think there may well be two Williams family members in the finals, so take that!

The Princess

In today’s morning matches and way back there on Court 17, something very special was happening. A Princess was born. The new 17-year-old American Princess stepped onto the court and claimed her rightful place.

As a decided underdog to pretty, fair-haired 29-year-old 26th seed, Austrian Sybille Bammer, little Melanie Oudin, who was sitting in her high school history class in Marietta Georgia three weeks ago, played to win. She played with the determination that led her to four successive junior championships last year, losing just three sets along the way. And, she played unlike a 5 foot 5 inch high school senior challenging a proven player who reached the quarters in the US Open last year and who reached the second round at Roland Garros and who has more than 100 career wins.

Melanie Oudin played like a winner. She played like her idol, Justine Henin, and she played with the quiet determination of our greatest queen, Queen Chrissy. Thank you Melanie! We knew you could do it. We have never doubted you.

At 5 foot 5 inches, players may not expect what Melanie will show them. She makes unlikely retrieves, prolongs points and smashes winning forehand drives with a slight irreverence.

What observers like about Melanie is that the 17-year-old blonde fireplug has a plan. She understands her serve will not overpower the pros so she makes no mistakes. She rarely double faults and she pressures opposing servers by making them work extra hard. If you are going to beat Melanie, bring your running shoes, because you will be on the court for a bit.

By the way, persons approaching our new Princess should pronounce her name oo-dan. As in oo-la-la! She’s a handful, our little princess. She’ll bubble you to death. Exuberant, joyful, bouncy, pretty, blonde and so very young. Off the court, Melanie is all joy. On the court, watch out. The Princess is all business.

When Melanie chose tennis, she chose it with purpose. The petite Georgian decided that if she would play, she would be good at it. That is good, as in successful, not as in also-ran.

She has been home schooled since the seventh grade. She intends to practice medicine, a noble pursuit and she intends to win big tennis matches. On June 23rd, little Melanie Oudin, official Princess of American tennis, won our hearts and the biggest match of her career. Way to go Melanie!

Now, Melanie, what will you do for us next? Will you rest on your laurels? Or, Princess, will you take it to the next level and outrun, outhustle and outgun 21-year old Muscovite, Yarolslava Shedova, a 6-1, 6-0 winner over Monica Nicolescu?

Once again, you will be the shortest player on the court. You will be the youngest player on the court. You will be an underdog, but you know what? You can do it! That’s is what American Princesses do. They win unexpected matches and move on to the third round. Then, we shall see. Okay Princess? See you in two days. Nice one, baby. Nice one! You make us proud!