Lleyton on boil

By Leo Schlink in Adelaide

Lleyton Hewitt will join DAvis Cup teammate Mark Woodforde tomorrow to try to protect South Australian Honour during the AAPT Championships at Memorial Drive.

Hewitt, the 1998 champion, and 1988-89 winner Woodforde, who almost certainly will make his final hometown appearance this week before retirement, are both motivated by contrasting desires to impact on the first tournament of the new millenium.

For 18-year-old Hewitt, the AAPT Championships were the springboard to a meteoric career. The champion at 16 with wins over Andre Agassi and Jason Stoltenberg, Hewitt has since progressed to Davis Cup glory.

And the fact 34-year-old Woodforde, whose posters once adorned Hewitt's bedroom walls, is deep into the twilight of a magnificent career has not been lost on the teenager.

"Mark's always had great results here and he's always supported the tournament," Hewitt said "Last year in the first round he had (eventual champion) Thomas Enqvist on the ropes, so he's always been competetive."

"If I'm taking over the reigns for South Australia, I've got a great player to follow."

Ranked 22nd in the world, Hewitt was beaten in the final last year by Enqvist, who returns as world no. 4 bidding not only to defend his title, but also project the form into an Australian Open win.

Woodforde does not intend to make an apologetic, senimental exit. A born competitor blessed with remarkable durability, he wants to snaffle tournament silverware - be it in singles or doubles with wildcard recipient Todd Woodbridge.

"I'd love to walk away from here with a win of some kind," Woodforde said

"I have great memories of this tournament. I remember coming through qualifying when it was played on grass and actually going out to play without proper grasscourt shoes.

"Some of the guys saw me and were horrified that I didn't have the right shoes.

"To have been able to win the tournament twice was fantastic. I've always made a practice of coming back home early to get ready with the other Aussie guys and I think I'll always come back to this tournament even when I retire."

Hewitt and Woodforde have clashed only once in this event - in 1998 - when the apprentice upstaged the master en route to one of the most striking breakthrough wins in the history of the sport.