One more comeback, why not ?
As previously written on an earlier post titled ' Hewitt and Farnham, many Similarities', our very own 'Mr Self Indulgence' is at it again, this time at the Brisbane International.
The year long 'Lleyton Hewitt Retirement World Tour' from a couple of years ago is looking more and more ridiculous by the day as another Main Draw position that could be filled by a youngster in desperate need of points and funds is taken once again by 'Mr Egotistical'.
The game will go on without you Lleyton.
Try telling Lleyton that.
Once, just once I would love a Tournament Committee to stand up to 'Mr Self Importance' and say ' Look Lleyton we really appreciate your desire to still play the game however there are scores of young players who are grinding it out on the Challenger Tour who deserve their place a whole lot more than you, so thanks but no thanks'.
It'll never happen though unfortunately as Tournament Committees go weak at the knees at the sound of a comeback and the 'euphoria' that usually surrounds it.
Free publicity, fuelled by one man's never diminishing ego.
Lleyton Hewitt's desire to still hit a tennis ball is obviously still evident but let's be realistic here, it's THAT time of year again. Even I get keen to play this time of year and I am nearly 49.
I hit yesterday, had trouble walking this morning.
The fresh smell of cut grass lingers in the air, the sun shines constantly, it's tennis weather, the 'Fed' Express' rolls into Perth for the Hopman Cup, the Aussie public can't get enough of the sport.
Lleyton Hewitt simply can't get over it, sorry, he can't get over himself not playing anymore so he wants to be out there, being a spectator is simply not enough for him.
Should I be so harsh on Lleyton ?
Well it depends on how you look at it.
Yes some romantics see merit to what he is doing, others like me who know the game reasonably well will understand my sceptical look at the situation, it lacks anything other than self importance.
Lleyton Hewitt knows full well just how tough it is to gain a position in the main draw of a Tour Tournament and he also knows that he is taking up a position of a player in desperate need.
In need of a dollar, in need of a ranking point.
Does Lleyton really care do you think ?
Lleyton Hewitt is not someone who will be regarded by the traditionalists of tennis as a player who respected the traditions of the game as anyone in the know will be well aware of the patent grabbing tactics of the arrogant Aussie when he acquired the ''Vicht''.
Now the "Vicht" as tennis traditionalists well know was invented by Swede Niclas Kroon and was 'allowed' to be used by his good buddy who just so happened to be legend seven time Grand Slam singles winner Mats Wilander.
The sign means 'For Sure'.
Lleyton stole it, he didn't invent it. It's not what many Aussies believe it is, 'Doing a Lleyton'.
It couldn't be further from the truth, it's a Swedish made hand signal grabbed by Hewitt when the patent ran out. Niclas Kroon was devastated that he did not renew it in time as he stated in an article though surely how can something invented by someone else be credited to another ?
Way of the World.
A patent runs out and it's snapped up by someone who can only see dollar signs, fuck tradition.
That's Lleyton Hewitt for you.
No grasp on what is right or wrong.
So to his coming out of retirement, ONCE AGAIN.
Hopefully he will put whatever money he makes back into the sport, perhaps he will find time for some Challenger Circuit players and perhaps even offer to fund one or two of them over the course of a tournament or two as let's face it, the sport requires big dollars to chase ranking points.
A first round loss in doubles on home soil for a budding young player may just see them make it to another competition or two with a couple of thousand dollars in the kitty.
A first round win may set them up for months, it's a fine line in tennis.
Enjoy the spotlight ONCE AGAIN LLEYTON, afterall, it's ALL ABOUT YOU..........
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