Hewitt draws the hard road
Hewitt draws the hard road 
By Leo Schlink, Scott Walsh and Doug Robertson
Former Australian Captain December 31, 2006
HOMETOWN hope Lleyton Hewitt was dealt a testing Australian Open tune-up draw yesterday, landing in the same half as world No.18 Richard Gasquet for the Next Generation Adelaide International starting today.
No.4 seed Hewitt, the world No.20, is scheduled to face Frenchman and No.2 seed Gasquet in a semi-final - if both players negotiate a novel round-robin stage at the Memorial Drive event.
Hewitt will play his first singles match on Tuesday, in a three-man group that includes world No.64 Janko Tipsarevic from Serbia.
The third player will come from an elimination match between Russian Igor Kunitsyn and a qualifier, to be confirmed in a match today.
Top seed Novak Djokovic from Serbia drew world No.76 Jan Hajek of the Czech Republic.
Co-tournament director Mark Woodforde believed Hewitt’s path to win his third Adelaide International offered the two-time grand slam champion an ideal Australian Open preparation.
“I think it turned out quite well for Rusty,” Woodforde said.
“He has Janko in his group, and he’s a tough player - not too dissimilar, I don’t think, from the baseline.
“He’s trying to be very aggressive and has a bit of power but Lleyton has to look at it positively. He’s going to get a good match with Janko.
“From what I’ve seen of Lleyton and having spoken to him, he’s very relaxed and he’s hitting the ball fine. I think he’ll be ready to go from the first match.”
Hewitt, who had a practice hit on centre court before yesterday’s draw, must top his three-man pool to progress to a traditional eight-man quarter-finals stage.
Players yesterday remained undecided about the round-robin innovation, which ensures top-seeded players two matches and saves them from automatic elimination before quarter-finals.
“For the public it’s nice because if Lleyton Hewitt loses his first match he can play a second match for the people,” said Gasquet, who drew names for the second stage yesterday.
Adelaide will this week serve as a battleground for Australian Open wildcards, with a host of local hopefuls displaying their wares.
While fans must wait until Tuesday night to see Hewitt in singles action, it will be a virtual Australia Day in main draw action today.
Chris Guccione, Peter Luczak and Alun Jones today face first-round elimination matches.
If Guccione can topple American Amer Delic and reach the round-robin stage of the tournament, he will add to his already imposing Australian Open wildcard aspirations.
The pair has met twice with neither able to break serve.
Luczak meets Argentine Martin Vassallo-Arguello in an event crammed with high-class Frenchmen, including Gasquet, Australian Open finalist Arnaud Clement and Davis Cup hero Philippe-Henri Mathieu.
Five Aussies will be in action in the first round of main draw elimination matches or in qualifying.
Big serving Swede and 2005 Adelaide International champion Joachim Johansson, who spent time in Adelaide when dating Jaslyn Hewitt, will play Lukas Dlouhy on centre court in a first-round elimination match.
Matches start at 11am.
Sunday Mail (SA)