Thirteen years to the day since being crowned the youngest-ever year-end men’s world No.1, Lleyton Hewitt has challenged Bernard Tomic to finally deliver on his own undoubted potential.
After opening the season with victory over top-ranked Novak Djokovic amid 10 consecutive wins and a maiden tour title, Tomic ended 2013 with five consecutive first-round defeats.
The enigmatic youngster is now languishing outside the world’s top 50 for the second straight year heading into the Australian summer.
The 21-year-old hasn’t beaten a higher-ranked rival since Wimbledon and risks plummeting outside the top 80 if he fails to replicate his impressive run of 12 months ago.
“He has his ups and downs throughout the year in terms of his results and he seems to get on a run for three or four weeks and then has three or four average losses for him,” Hewitt said on Tuesday.
“I think that’s just being young as well. It’s such a long year out on the tour.
“So when you first come on the tour, to be able to play well for 40 weeks in a row is not easy.
“That’s why I think a lot of the older guys, like myself and Roger (Federer), are hanging around a bit longer as we’re able to play throughout the year.”
While Tomic’s attitude and application to training are often questioned – even by himself – Hewitt’s motivation levels remain as high as ever.
Tuesday marked the 13th anniversary of the baseline warrior rising to world No.1 at just 20 years and eight months back in 2000.
Hewitt turns 33 in February yet is refusing to completely give up on his seemingly impossible dream of winning the Australian Open.
“With the right draw and a bit of luck, you never know,” he said.
“Obviously those top couple of guys, Rafa (Nadal) and Novak are the two main guys for sure and don’t count Roger and Andy Murray and (Juan Martin) del Potro and (Tomas) Berdych and these guys out either.
“But it would be nice to go under the radar.”
Buoyed by his vintage run to the last 16 of the US Open in September, Hewitt still considers himself Australia’s premier player – despite being ranked 10 spots below Tomic after another stop-start season.
“Bernard is obviously the next best player,” Hewitt said.
“(But) he’s got to make the next transition now from 50 in the world to top 20 and hopefully top 10 and be a potential grand slam winner.”
