Hewitt keeps ambitions realistic

 

Originally published on: 26/02/10 12:13

Playing in his first ATP Tour match in over four months following hip surgery, Hewitt secured a hard-fought 5-7 6-2 6-4 win over Julien Benneteau of France.

Asked to evaluate the state of his game ahead of the Australian Open, Hewitt said: “It’s not easy to come out in match situations and just pick it up straight away – it doesn’t matter how good you are. So it’s a matter of getting that confidence and the more matches (I play) that will come back.”

Hewitt will take on Janko Tipsarevic in the second round after the talented Serbian defeated American Mardy Fish 6-4 3-6 6-4.

Meanwhile, Australian wild card Chris Guccione delighted the home crowd with a 6-3 6-4 win over sixth-seeded Czech Tomas Berdych.

Berdych’s compatriot Radek Stepanek also missed out on a place in the next round after retiring due to illness against French qualifier Jeremy Chardy, who was leading 6-4 3-0.

It proved a good day for France, with Paul-Henri Mathieu and Richard Gasquet advancing courtesy of victories over Italian Andreas Seppi and Russia’s Dmitry Tursunov respectively.

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