Some lovely words from Tomic at the end
“It’s so difficult playing him,” he starts. “I was very very nervous. It could have gone both ways.” Asked what Hewitt means to him and other young players, Tomic says, “He’s a huge legend for me and I’ve always looked up to him and so for me, it was difficult playing him tonight. It was very emotional and it was tough before the match to prepare.”
“What a privelege it was today for me.”
Amen to that, Bernie. Tomic will have an uphill battle from here to be prepared for his 3rd round match but what an admirable effort it was to prevail. Anybody who doubts his stamina and application would do well to watch a replay of that fifth set. He hung tough and got there in the end.
He took the match in five gripping sets, 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 5-7, 7-5, serving 25 aces but in the latter stages, fighting a determined opponent, the onset of fatigue and an accompanying barrage of errors. If he’s got any air left in his lungs he’ll breathe a huge sigh of relief now.
That’s all from me but thanks for joining us for this epic, archetypal Lleyton Hewitt Marathon. He didn’t win it today, but what a way to sign off on his US Open career.
Tomic finally wins it!
Fifth set: Tomic 7-5 Hewitt (Tomic wins in five sets)
Whatever magic the trainer weaved on Tomic in that changeover appears to reap dividends early when he moves freely to slap a backhand winner down the line, then another returning Hewitt’s second serve to make it 0-30. This is big for Tomic. He’s out on his feet but hitting it well and now an opening presents. And then... he biffs an optimistic forehand long when he had Hewitt on the hop but Hewitt clips the net next up to make it 40-15.
Tomic has two match points on the Hewitt serve and most predictably, Hewitt saves the first in typically combative style. Tomic’s groaning now with every stroke but somehow he prevails, working the veteran around the court one last time and then spearing the final dagger into this match with a big forehand. He’s done it! He’s finally killed Zombie Lleyton!
Tomic can’t believe it. He shakes hands with and embraces his foe, then slumps into his chair with a towel over his head. He’s spent. He’s been through a Lleyton Hewitt washing machine on spin cycle. The Lleytonator!
“Lleyton loved every minute of that” says Wally Masur and no assessment of this match could be more accurate. Hewitt gathers his things, waves to the crowd and hobbles away to die in peace. What a hero. What a match this was. Tomic wins it but not without an ulmiighty struggle.
Fifth set: *Tomic 6-5 Hewitt (*denotes next server - 2 sets apiece)
Bernard Tomic is close to physical meltdown now but on the evidence of some of the shots he plays early in this game it’s liberated him to take some risks and sometimes they come off. At 30-30 on the second serve Hewitt pounces, working a rally in his favour to earn a break point. He has his chances in an ensuing rally but cranks a big backhand wide and long down the line to make it deuce.
Tomic’s got the advantage on serve but he’s also limping badly, possibly with cramps. Through that pain he still manages a huge ace to close out the game and immediately calls for a trainer to rub the knots out of his upper thigh. Four hours on I almost need a massage just from watching it.
Tomic breaks back!
Fifth set: *Tomic 5-5 Hewitt (*denotes next server - 2 sets apiece)
Ooh, is Hewitt a little nervy here closing it out? He concedes the first point but somehow makes it 15-15 by retrieving some hammer-blow ground strokes from Tomic, defending his way to the point. There follows a timid double fault to make it 15-30 but a big first serve levels things up at 30-30. A few errors later and Tomic breaks. Oh dear. Now it’s Lleyton’s turn to crumble under the pressure. We’re back on serve.
Fifth set: Tomic 4-5 Hewitt* (*denotes next server - 2 sets apiece)
“A rare encounter in which both player is purest, most unadulterated version of himself,” says reader Peter Matessi, and he’s right. Tomic looked a million bucks earlier, now like something from the two dollar shop. He hands Hewitt two match points on that faltering serve of his but somehow manages to reel them back - the second is a long, classical Hewitt rally, but Tomic then aces twice to hold. That’s admirable in the circumstances but Hewitt will now serve for the match.
Great game of Tennis right now....Hewitt V Tomic.
— Andrew Bogut (@andrewbogut) September 4, 2015
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Fifth set: *Tomic 3-5 Hewitt (*denotes next server - 2 sets apiece)
There’s something a little resigned about Tomic now. The returns are a bit insipid and just sit up to be hit and Hewitt is happy to put them away. At 40-0 Hewitt rocks back and with the easiest service action of the day, fires an ace into the corner. This is his match for the taking now, a remarkable turn of events.
Hewitt breaks!
Fifth set: Tomic 3-4 Hewitt* (*denotes next server - 2 sets apiece)
Here we go. Hewitt’s up 30-0 on Tomic’s serve and then works him from side to side to close out the point and establish three break points and a huge opening to take the match. There’s a hiccup on the rally that follows when he loops a top-spin forehand wide and Tomic produces a big kick serve to make it 30-40, but then slams a tired backhand long to cough up the break and open up the possibility of one last heroic 5-set win for Lleyton Hewitt. What a warrior. He has no right to be winning matches like this but he’s winding back the clock today.
Fifth set: *Tomic 3-3 Hewitt (*denotes next server - 2 sets apiece)
Rubber man Hewitt continues to thrash away on serve and though Tomic finally prevails on a long rally early, he’s looking more than a little lead-footed on the baseline as his more experience opponent works him over. At 30-15 Hewitt constructs a perfect point to set up a forehand put-away and a couple of points later he holds.
Fifth set: Tomic 3-2 Hewitt* (*denotes next server - 2 sets apiece)
There’s no easy points for Tomic at this point and the longer each rally goes the more susceptible he looks. Hewitt gives him the run-around and then levels it 30-30 with a big double-fisted backhand winner. The pressure is telling on Tomic, who clips the net with a forehand and hands Hewitt his first break point of the fifth set.
Tomic determinedly saves that to make it deuce and then fires an ace down the line to get some breathing space. He holds on account of a Hewitt error but he’s really sucking in some deep breaths now as he takes a seat. He’s in a dog fight at the moment.
Fifth set: *Tomic 2-2 Hewitt (*denotes next server - 2 sets apiece)
This really is vintage Lleyton here. He’s tenacious in the rally and slaps a magnificent forehand winner down the line to get going, but Tomic comes to the net successfully to make it 30-30. Hewitt holds serve.
Fifth set: Tomic 2-1 Hewitt* (*denotes next server - 2 sets apiece)
It’s still 30 degrees outside as these two continue to spar, and the service games certainly aren’t coming as easy to Tomic as they were in the early stages of the match. An inside-out backhand slice fades wide so Tomic gives an opening at deuce but then Hewitt takes his turn on the unforced errors to hand him the advantage. One lazy Hewitt swipe later and Tomic’s held serve, but not convincingly so. This is going down to the wire, folks.
Fifth set: *Tomic 1-1 Hewitt (*denotes next server - 2 sets apiece)
Hewitt’s hemmed in during an early rally on serve and again prevails when Tomic yields to his opponent’s powers of perseverance. At 30-15 on Hewitt’s second serve he also slams a potential winner into the net, which is far from ideal and a rather unfortunate summary of how this match has panned out. Tomic hangs in there but Hewitt claims the advantage and then the game by continuing to chase down and send back everything his opponent’s got.
Fifth set: Tomic 1-0 Hewitt* (*denotes next server - 2 sets apiece)
As the local parking inspectors do their thing on my car, Tomic gets us started in the fifth by butchering the early stages of his service game and it’s 0-40 when Hewitt slams a big forehand into the open court for a winner. Tomic claws back one point, then another thanks to a Hewitt error, and makes it deuce with a very welcome ace down the line. A couple more and he holds, luckily so. Tomic is smiling outwardly but he might also be furious with himself for letting it get to this point.
We're going to a fifth set - you can't kill Zombie Lleyton
Fourth set: *Tomic 5-7 Hewitt (*denotes next server - 2 sets apiece)
Lleyton Hewitt was down and out little more than an hour ago, two sets down and labouring under a calf injury that was restricting his movement. Now he looks bionic, serving to force a fifth set out of a tiring and dispirited opponent. He aces to make it 30-0 and soon closes it out. This is remarkable stuff. I shouldn’t be surprise but it’s just marvelous tennis from a man who never gives in. For Tomic? It’s a nightmare.
Hewitt breaks again and will serve for the 4th set
Fourth set: Tomic 5-6 Hewitt* (*denotes next server - Tomic leads 2 sets to 1)
Good grief. Now Tomic nets and slumps to 0-30 on serve and with a double fault he hands Hewitt three break points and a huge opening to push this to a fifth set. Maybe I’ll get a second parking fine. My theory seemed so smart last night. It really did. Hewitt breaks and will serve for the fourth set. He’s playing out of his mind.
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Fourth set: *Tomic 5-5 Hewitt (*denotes next server - Tomic leads 2 sets to 1)
Perhaps Tomic is better off without the pressure of serving. “At work so can’t watch but surely he can’t win, can he?” asks Peter Matassi. Hewitt certainly thinks so and skips away to a 40-15 lead here on serve before acing to tie it all up. His entourage are out of their seats. Who knows if he’ll get there but this is a fitting farewell if he doesn’t.
Hewitt breaks back! He refuses to yield to Tomic
Fourth set: *Tomic 5-4 Hewitt* (*denotes next server - Tomic leads 2 sets to 1)
Tomic begins with an ace and moments later hammers a big forehand to make it 30-15 but Hewitt’s not done - he flays a huge winner of his own that clips the line on the way through. Oh my... Hewitt charges the net and the pressure tells on Tomic as he nets a backhand to surrender a break point. Then there’s a fault but he works Hewitt around the court well to make it deuce and take a breath.
Urgh. An ugly Tomic backhand hands Hewitt another break point and the crowd is going wild for him but the youngster barrels a big ace down the line to hold firm and gives himself a stern talking to in the aftermath. The self-directed message doesn’t seem to work because another unforced error floats long to hand Hewitt his third opportunity to break. And he does it! This is crazy stuff.
“Come on Russell, don’t let the parking situation get you down - this is great cat & mouse tennis!” says reader Paul Clarke. “That defensive backhand slice down the line in the 5th game was vintage Hewitt. Let’s hope this goes to the fifth and Hewitt has to get peeled off the court.” Okay Paul, pass a hat around then.
Tomic breaks and will serve for the match
Fourth set: *Tomic 5-3 Hewitt (*denotes next server - Tomic leads 2 sets to 1)
The one thing that we can guarantee here is that the impacts of fatigue are going to come down harder on Tomic than Hewitt, who gets off on this sort of stuff. He’s up 30-15 on serve here but yanks a low forehand into the net to give Tomic a sniff. There follows a marathon rally in which Tomic finally succumbs to the pressure, netting and handing Hewitt game point, but the youngster fights back gamely to claim the advantage and a break point.
This could effectively end it and Hewitt starts with a fault, which allows Tomic to hammer the second serve down the line and break. He’ll now serve for the match.
Fourth set: Tomic 4-3 Hewitt* (*denotes next server - Tomic leads 2 sets to 1)
It’s a nervy old time for Tomic on serve here and Hewitt has his chances but he hooks a cross-court forehand long to hand Tomic the game so we’re still on serve.
Fourth set: *Tomic 3-3 Hewitt (*denotes next server - Tomic leads 2 sets to 1)
Tomic has three more unforced errors than Hewitt now - 34-31 - which is a telling stat in the last set and a half. He’s also only winning 71% of his points on first serve, down from 96% earlier. But he’s clawing his way back in determined fashion, even if it’s lacking in finesse. Right as I say that he misses a number of openings so Hewitt opens up a 40-15 buffer on serve. Tomic’s response is a sizzling forehand winner down the line but Hewitt sends down his 12th ace to hold. I’m now close to a certainty for that parking ticket.
Fourth set: Tomic 3-2 Hewitt* (*denotes next server - Tomic leads 2 sets to 1)
Now Tomic is nailing his first serve too so it’s 40-15 in a flash, but Hewitt outwits him with a double-handed backhand lob and then a terrier-like effort on a rally to make it deuce. This is brilliant, fighting tennis from Hewitt but he makes an unforced error to hand Tomic the advantage and he hammers that home with another big ace to hold. He’s earning his Powerade now.
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Fourth set: *Tomic 2-2 Hewitt (*denotes next server - Tomic leads 2 sets to 1)
Tomic is rallying a little here, benefiting from a favourable line call to have Hewitt on the back foot at 0-30 on serve. Hewitt goes long with a forehand to surrender three break points and nets to cough up the break. Is Hewitt’s comeback over or will he dig in again?
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Fourth set: Tomic 1-2 Hewitt* (*denotes next server - Tomic leads 2 sets to 1)
Red-faced and agitated, Tomic at least manages to get back on track here, closing out a quick service game with a big ace and getting on the board in the fourth set. This is a stern test for the young Aussie.
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Fourth set: *Tomic 0-2 Hewitt (*denotes next server - Tomic leads 2 sets to 1)
Hewitt’s like a man possessed now, skipping out to a 30-0 lead on serve and continuing to heap pressure on Tomic. The latter is an utter mess, not coping with the heat in both a literal and figurative sense. Hewitt holds with a love game.
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Hewitt breaks again early in the 4th! Tomic is in meltdown!
Fourth set: Tomic 0-1 Hewitt* (*denotes next server - Tomic leads 2 sets to 1)
You cannot kill Lleyton Hewitt. You can maim him, you can poison his water supply, but he’ll just develop a tolerance - no, a liking - for the pain. That’s what Bernard Tomic is finding out right now. Nobody puts Lleyton in the corner. Tomic is making errors left, right and centre. He’s a serious risk of letting this slip and again coughs up a break point and nearly the game, but gets a lucky break on a review. No matter, he thumps a forehand long and Hewitt takes the early break.
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Hewitt takes the third set!
Third set: *Tomic 3-6 Hewitt (*denotes next server - Tomic leads 2 sets to 1)
Hewitt’s even mis-hitting winners now. My parking ticket situation is looking truly dire. Hewitt’s back alive - though still grimacing in pain - and in the flash of an eye he’s got three set points. He aces to take it 6-3 and we’re going to a fourth set. I am quite possibly working for free here. Please pray to the parking inspector gods, if there are any.
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Hewitt breaks again!
Third set: Tomic 3-5 Hewitt* (*denotes next server - Tomic leads 2 sets to 0)
Hewitt is a marvel, really. There’s no way he should be chasing Tomic’s bombs down like this but where the youngster is a bit too casual and carefree, Hewitt is seizing upon micro-millimeter openings to win points. All this on one leg. Tomic stays calm at 30-30 to work Hewitt wide and then slice a backhand across court, but Hewitt makes it deuce with his Border Collie routine and then establishes ANOTHER BREAK POINT. AND CLAIMS IT! Tomic smacked a forehand long and this is just getting silly now. Hewitt will serve for the third set.
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Third set: *Tomic 3-4 Hewitt (*denotes next server - Tomic leads 2 sets to 0)
There’s something compelling about the power Tomic is able to derive from what seems such minimal exertion on his ground strokes and the rally that makes it 15-15 here is a great example of that - balls reaching Hewitt a split second before he’s ready for them. Unfortunately the errors are also mounting, which means Hewitt soon skips out to a 40-15 lead before closing it out smartly at the net. We’re still on serve as Zombie Lleyton staggers on.
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Third set: Tomic 3-3 Hewitt* (*denotes next server - Tomic leads 2 sets to 0)
On a completely selfish level I really need Tomic to close this one out. There’s an hour left on my parking and the risk of a ticket looms large. There you go, my bias is revealed. Tomic mightn’t be aware of that challenge but he rises to it here, establishing a 40-15 buffer when Hewitt nets a forehand and then closing it out with an ace to hold.
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Third set: *Tomic 2-3 Hewitt (*denotes next server - Tomic leads 2 sets to 0)
Once maligned figures on the tour, there’s now something admirable about the Hewitt camp sitting in the stands in their green and gold, cheering him on at Flushing Meadows for the last time. What a shift they’ve put in following him around the world. Hewitt’s still got his foot on the gas here and hold serve with ease, Tomic only taking the one point off him. He might just be trying to teach Bernie a lesson here. Wonderful stuff.
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Third set: Tomic 2-2 Hewitt* (*denotes next server - Tomic leads 2 sets to 0)
Hewitt is getting his calf rubbed by the trainer again but you can bet your life that he’ll stay out there, even if his entire leg falls off. He’s never retired in a Grand Slam match and you’d doubt he’s going to start now. Tomic blasts his way to a 30-15 lead on serve but Hewitt’s keeping him honest, so much so that he forces his first break point opportunity of the match.
Tomic saves that with a huge second serve ace down the middle, his 11th for the match, but Hewitt works him over to win another next up. This is a real turn up for the books. Then Tomic nets and Hewitt breaks back! Sensational stuff. There’s still some life in this after all.
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Third set: *Tomic 2-1 Hewitt (*denotes next server - Tomic leads 2 sets to 0)
Now it’s Hewitt’s turn to contribute to the highlight real with an attractive forehand winner, even more enjoyable when he punctuates it with the kind of grimace normally reserved for bad news. He serves out a love game of his own to get on the board. “It’s still looking pretty dire” says Wally Masur. And he’s right. It’s just a matter of time now.
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Third set: Tomic 2-0 Hewitt* (*denotes next server - Tomic leads 2 sets to 0)
This is just a cakewalk now for Tomic, who floats a forehand winner down the line and then aces to close out a love service game. That took less than a minute.
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Third set: *Tomic 1-0 Hewitt (*denotes next server - Tomic leads 2 sets to 0)
It’s a bit of a shame for Hewitt to bow out like this but fair’s fair, he’s struggling with injury and playing against a seeded opponent. His first service game of the third sees him battling again, down 0-30 quickly before a long rally draws him back on level terms. His day’s summed up when he reels in a scorching Tomic forehand to set up a forehand smash at the net but bunts it into the net with the whole court open. Tomic gets the early break and looks a good thing to close this out in straight sets.
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Tomic takes a two-set lead against Lleyton Hewitt
Second set: Tomic 6-2 Hewitt* (*denotes next server - Tomic leads 2 sets to 0)
Still retaining all of his lackadaisical charm, there’s a harder edge to Tomic now ad that’s best shown in the way he’s shortening points here on serve and not allowing Hewitt any breathing space. At 40-0 he concedes a point but moments later he chases down a drop shot to take the game and the second set.
Some stats? Tomic is winning 96% of his points on first serve, has committed 7 fewer unforced errors and he’s also fit and firing. The same can’t be said about Hewitt, who has called for a trainer in the break.
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Second set: *Tomic 5-2 Hewitt (*denotes next server - Tomic leads 1 set to 0)
Oof! Tomic hammers a backhand down the line when Hewitt had chipped and charged so it’s 0-40 with another three break points on offer. “That’s a good one” cries Hewitt as he saves the first with a corker of his own - a booming cross-court forehand. Tomic needs another two goes at it but Hewitt nets a backhand to surrender the extra break. Tomic will now serve to close out the second set and this match is his for the taking.
Second set: Tomic 4-2 Hewitt* (*denotes next server - Tomic leads 1 set to 0)
Tomic’s a different player on serve, ruthless in the way he pushes Hewitt around the court before pounding a few winners to make it 40-0. Well, almost ruthless. He coughs up a couple of points on his second serve but soon closes it out with another kick serve. With a giant pair of orange Beats by Dre headphones hung around his neck, Nick Kygrios looks on beside compatriot Thanasi Kokkinakis in the stands.
Second set: *Tomic 3-2 Hewitt (*denotes next server - Tomic leads 1 set to 0)
Whoosh! Tomic canes a forehand past Hewitt to start this game and Hewitt’s on the back foot at 15-30 when he slices a cross-court forehand wide and can then only watch on as another Tomic forehand flashes metres past him. Tomic’s got two break points but Hewitt comes up with an ace to save the first and youngster helps him out by cracking a backhand long from the next.
Hewitt is genuinely battling with his body as he nets to cough up another break point but he charges the net to save that one too. Bad Bernie then emerges again, netting innocuously twice and allowing Hewitt to hold.
Second set: Tomic 3-1 Hewitt* (*denotes next server - Tomic leads 1 set to 0)
As Wally Masur waxes lyrical about Tomic’s improved first serve he does the right thing and cracks on to a 40-15 lead in no time. Hewitt’s doing lunges at the baseline to deal with that ailment of his and in the blink of an eye Tomic’s held serve again to maintain the momentum.
Second set: *Tomic 2-1 Hewitt (*denotes next server - Tomic leads 1 set to 0)
This is a far better service game for Hewitt. A ace down the line makes it 30-0 and he then ends a short rally with a scything cross-court forehand. Tomic virtually concedes rather than being worn down in further rallies, which is a wise tactic in this heat. He still holds the break.
Second set: Tomic 2-0 Hewitt* (*denotes next server - Tomic leads 1 set to 0)
Here’s a hypothetical for you. Who would you want playing for your life in a crunch match: peak form and fitness Bernard Tomic or peak form Lleyton Hewitt on one leg? What we’re seeing here is Zombie Lleyton digging in. He takes the first two points of the Tomic service game but the youngster wisely decides to charge and angle a volley to move his opponent around.
There’s a quite magnificent rally which goes Tomic’s way after he somehow chases down an angled backhand slice that really should have finished the point. Moments later he holds and Hewitt’s hacking away at his shoes again.
Second set: *Tomic 1-0 Hewitt (*denotes next server - Tomic leads 1 set to 0)
Hewitt starts the second set badly, down 0-40 on serve in no time and bending down awkwardly after points in response to a leg injury of some description. A calf maybe? I might just list every piece of the anatomy and keep my options open. Tomic gets the early break and one gets the sense that this could really slip away.
Tomic takes the first set
First set: Tomic 6-3 Hewitt (Tomic leads 1 set to 0)
Tomic is a man in a hurry on serve, even pacing between points as he quickly opens up a 40-0 buffer and three set points. He finishes it off with a high-looping kick serve that Hewitt can’t even get close to. What’s Hewitt got left in the tank?
First set: *Tomic 5-3 Hewitt (*denotes next server)
One are in which Tomic has been brutally efficient so far is on Hewitt’s second serve, from which he thumps a domineering forehand winner across court to start this game. Hewitt’s definitely not 100% fit but sends an ace down the middle to hold serve again. Perhaps Tomic is happy to conserve his energy here with the break in hand.
First set: Tomic 5-2 Hewitt* (*denotes next server)
Knowing that Hewitt’s labouring physically his opponent should be hammering home the advantage here but Tomic’s just doing the bare minimum at the moment, trading backhand slices in a long and energy-sapping rally at the end of which Hewitt clips a backhand inches too long. He then nets a backhand and Tomic cracks a serve wide to hold easily.
First set: *Tomic 4-2 Hewitt (*denotes next server)
A little red in the face and constantly wiping sweat from his brow, Hewitt is a little surer on serve in this game but Tomic mercilessly launches into his second serve with a huge forehand to make it 30-30 and if not for a few unforced errors could have created another opening.
Hewitt doubles to make it deuce and then works a rally beautifully to open up the court and massage a winner across the line. Is he a little sore though? He’s certainly motioning as though he’s stiff in either the back or hamstrings. Another double fault hands Tomic the advantage but the youngster slaps a attempted backhand winner long. Is it Hewitt’s groin that’s the problem? I’ll narrow it down at some point hopefully but it’s safe to say he’s not firing on all cylinders. He still holds on with a big kick serve ace. What a warrior.
First set: Tomic 4-1 Hewitt* (*denotes next server)
Tomic cracks a huge ace down the line to get going here but he’s also playing some unconvincing ground strokes at time, no cause for great concern but still giving Hewitt a sniff. Tomic’s also unable to cope with a huge cross-court forehand from Hewitt that makes it 30-30 and playing from memory, the elder statesman forces it to deuce by chasing down anything and everything. Tomic still holds but he’s being made to work a little hard now.
First set: *Tomic 3-1 Hewitt (*denotes next server)
“Let’s go Lleyton” chant the ever imaginative Fanatics cheer squad as Hewitt emerges from the chair. At 15-30 he produces another ace to relieve a little of the gradually-rising pressure but a loose forehand down the line sets up another break point for Tomic. It’s on Hewitt’s second serve and he scrambles in classic style, before surviving another break point and holding his serve in determined fashion to get on the board.
First set: Tomic 3-0 Hewitt* (*denotes next server)
Hewitt’s struggling a little early, unable to make inroads on the Tomic serve having battled so hard on his own and still squandered the break. To compound this, some truly awful pop song with an auto-tuned vocal is being piped through the PA on an adjoining court and drowning out whatever atmosphere there is. Tomic hold serve with ease and Hewitt is up against it.
First set: *Tomic 2-0 Hewitt (*denotes next server)
Hewitt’s service game starts with the kind of probing rally that suits him well but Tomic eventually winds up on a big cross-court forehand for the winner.A couple of loose swipes from the latter it’s 30-15 in Hewitt’s favour but he also errs on a smash at the net, sending it long.
He’s trying to move Tomic around the court nicely but the latter is rising to the challenge, establishing deuce by forcing Hewitt wide at mid-court and then lobbing over his head. Hewitt’s first ace brings up his second game point but he’s shaking his head and muttering when he squanders that one too and then double faults to hand Tomic the early break.
First set: Tomic 1-0 Hewitt* (*denotes next server)
Hewitt is straight into it with a big forehand winner down the line - which has the crowd in raptures - but the youngster recovers well to establish a 40-15 buffer with a couple of strong first serves and then Hewitt nets to hand him the first game.
The players are now out on court to warm up
And right as they pan across to Hewitt he theatrically flips his cap backwards and heads out for the toss. Old habits die heard. As he puts Tomic through his paces we also see the familiar sight of that heavy ankle strapping, thicker on both feet even than those canteloupe-shaped calves of his. His record here? 47-13. Not too shabby at all.
It’s 33 degrees celsius out there on the Grandstand court, which in thery would suit masochist Hewitt as much as anyone, but it’s also nice and shady for the less battle-hardened Tomic. He wears some fluorescent socks and shoes and his shorts, if I’m being honest, look like the kind of boxer shorts your grandpa might wear to bed. He’s an enigma, the young lad. Tomic has won the toss and elected to serve and with that, the Fanatics start on their first round of ‘Aussie Oi’. Oh joy...
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Coach Lleyton?
More Kyrgios News!
Hello all, welcome to this live blog of the Aussie-centric Round 2 clash between Lleyton Hewitt and Bernard Tomic. As I kick things off news is just filtering through that your boy Kyrgios will be providing a bit of commentary on the Fox Sports feed in Australia. He’d probably rather be out on court, but what a multi-talented lad he is.
Anyway, to the task at hand. In theory 24th seed Tomic should blast his way past old fogey Hewitt here, but the young buck has aired a few reservations about that in the last 24 hours and knows from all their shared training sessions that Hewitt is the opponent who never gives in and he’s also playing in his final US Open. The future, the past, they’re all out there and on display soon, because Sabine Lisicki is about to wrap up her match against Camila Giordi.
I’ll be back soon with more, but feel free to contact me throughout this match on russell.jackson@theguardian.com or via twitter: @rustyjacko
Russell will be along before too long, which should give you enough time to digest the latest instalment in the soap opera that is the life of Nick Kyrgios, a chapter that features Shane Warne, of all people.
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