Whether or not he’s in the midst of his Wimbledon swan song, Lleyton Hewitt is savouring every precious moment.
“It doesn’t get any better than playing out here at this tournament,” Hewitt said after opening his 16th All England Club campaign with a four-set win over Poland’s Michal Przysiezny.
“Physically I’ve come through a few things over the last couple years with injury and surgery, but it’s all worth it out here.
“This is what I still play for.”
Hewitt, the 2002 champion, reached the second round for the 12th time with a hard-fought but ultimately convincing 6-2 6-7 (16-14) 6-1 6-4 victory over 120th-ranked Przysiezny on Tuesday.
While the performance may have done little to suggest Hewitt can make another, unlikely, run deep into the draw, it at least prolonged what many believe could be his final singles campaign on the famed lawns.
The 33-year-old was spotted having a series of family photos taken on Wimbledon’s centre court last week, prompting fresh speculation about his future.
But if Hewitt is planning to make this year’s appearance part of his farewell tour, in typical fashion, he isn’t letting on.
“I reckon (people) have said that for the last five or six years,” Hewitt said of talk of retirement.
“I’m just going to go out there and play.”
Having negotiated one Pole, Hewitt must next deal with another on Thursday in Jerzy Janowicz, the 15th seed.
Janowicz reached the semi-finals at Wimbledon last year but has been below his best this season, needing five sets to get past Indian Somdev Devvarman in the first round.
Hewitt lives for a chance to take down seeds these days but he’s wary of Janowicz’s big serve and big game.
“I’ve got to weather the storm out there,” Hewitt said.
“He’s going to be up and down, though, so I’ve to go out there and keep a good level the whole time, not let it drop off.”
Worryingly, Hewitt has failed to post back-to-back wins since claiming the ATP title in Brisbane in January.
He spent more than three hours on the court against Przysiezny but he’s confident he can back it up.
“Fitness-wise I felt fine. Not a worry,” Hewitt said.