Cool Swede finishes hot streak

By PATRICK MILES

THE Lleyton Hewitt runaway train shuddered to a halt yesterday after running into the formidable form of Magnus Norman in the fourth round of the Australian Open. All good things must come to an end, apparently, and for the Australian, the last home player in the singles, 14 wins in a row was too much to ask. It was his best performance to date in a grand slam, following third-round appearances at Wimbledon and the US Open last year, and it established him as a main contender. Hewitt's remarkable run, which began in Adelaide in the first week of the year, continued in Sydney and ended with the Swede, 6-3 6-1 7-6, proved he will be a force to be reckoned with this season. "It was going to have to come to an end at some stage," Hewitt said. "I was hoping to continue for a little bit longer but, realistically, it was always going to be tough right through the summer." Norman, the 12th seed at Melbourne Park, was too strong and consistent for the 18-year-old to master but it was as much fatigue as his opponent's skills that caused Hewitt's downfall. The most successful performer on the ATP Tour so far this year, Hewitt had chances to drag back a two-set deficit in the third but was unable to convert his opportunities. He had a set point when Norman served at 2-5 and two more on the Swede's serve at 5-6 but Norman, who had broken back at 5-3, found the will to force a tie-break. The first five points of the shoot-out went against serve, which gave Norman a slight advantage. Hewitt fought back to save match points at 4-6 and 5-6 but then double-faulted at 6-6 to hand Norman a chance to serve for the match at 7-6. Hewitt netted the return and flung his racquet across the court, exhausted by the effects of winning his 13 previous matches and deflated by his inability to add one more to his streak. Norman, 23, propelled by his tree-trunk legs, was too powerful for the young man who stands on mere saplings. The Swede knocked the wind from the sails of the man in form. "Magnus played a great match and there was not much I could do out there, particularly in the first couple of sets," Hewitt said. "I felt a bit flat out on the court. The only reason I could think of was because I played too many matches. "It takes its toll." Hewitt began by holding his serve with an ace, then girded himself for another in a long line of supreme efforts as Norman stepped up to deliver. The Australian stood to receive, doubled over with his legs spread wide, like a child examining a nest of ants, but Norman was also immediately into his stride and concluded his first service game with an ace. In the third game, Hewitt double-faulted to bring up two break points then netted a forehand on the first to allow the Swede an advantage. Hewitt had two break points himself in the following game, which six times went to deuce, but Norman clung on and broke again at 3-5 when he scrambled for a volley and sent it back across the court for a winner. Hewitt seemed short of gas – not surprisingly, given his recent schedule and commitment to play doubles – while Norman, who won the title in Auckland just over a week ago, was making all the running. He broke the Australian's serve twice in the second set, which he completed at 5-1 with a tricky backhand stop-volley that plopped over the net. Down two sets to love, Hewitt required something extraordinary to lift himself and it came from the crowd, who, up to this point, had been subdued by the vocal excesses of the Swedish supporters. The players returned to their stations for the start of the third set to a great roar in the Rod Laver Arena but this time it was in favour of the Australian. Hewitt made the break at 1-2 by tucking away a rare short ball from Norman then pumped his fists as his supporters urged him further on. But that was his last act of significance as the Swede broke back at 5-3 then saved two more set points at 5-6 to force the tie-break. "The only reason I could think of why I was flat was because I played too many matches," said Hewitt. "I have never done that before and I have played a lot of tough matches and it takes its toll." Hewitt said it was tough to take a loss after such an exhilarating run. "If someone was going to tell me that I'd win my three matches and make the round of 16 I would have taken it. "It's always tough to take a loss, particularly here because it's my favourite tournament," Hewitt said. "But I have obviously played good tennis over the last month or so. I think I have also learned a lot on and off the court in the last month and I will be a better player because of it."