Hewitt reveals plan to beat Federer
Lleyton Hewitt has unveiled his Australian Open game plan to bring down rampant world No.1 Roger Federer after storming off with his 24th career title at the Medibank International in Sydney.
Hewitt outclassed Czech qualifier Ivo Minar 7-5 6-0 to become the first player since John Bromwich in 1940 to capture four titles at the tournament formerly known as the NSW Open.
Bromwich went on to lift the trophy seven times, as did Jack Crawford, but few would bet against Hewitt one day matching that mark on his beloved Homebush Bay centre court.
The world No.3's latest triumph was his 20th consecutive win in the event and 28th straight at the Olympic Park precinct including his Davis Cup and Masters Cup successes.
"I love playing here in Sydney and it gets better and better every year," Hewitt said.
"I've only played four tournaments in this arena and I've been fortunate to win all four, so it's a hell of a place to play tennis. It's been awesome."
But for all his heroics in the harbour city, Melbourne Park has never been a happy summer holiday spot for Hewitt, who remains desperate to progress further than the fourth round for the first time when the Australian Open begins on Monday.
While the former US Open and Wimbledon champion said he would be adopting a "one match at a time" approach, the imposing figure of Federer was still in the back of his mind.
Federer beat Hewitt in all six of their meetings last year, but the South Australian, in the best shape of his career, said he wouldn't be raising the white towel should they feature in the first-ever Sunday night final in a fortnight's time.
Hewitt said the key to stopping the Swiss dominator, who remains unbeaten since the Athens Olympics following his straight-sets dismissal of world No.2 Andy Roddick in Saturday's Kooyong Classic, was to "stay with him early in matches".
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