Hewitt unfazed by Adelaide heat
Hewitt unfazed by Adelaide heat 
By Daniel Brettig
Former Australian Captain December 31, 2007
LLEYTON Hewitt advised his fellow professionals to shape up or quit the sport after several raised concerns about steepling temperatures on day one of the Adelaide International at Memorial Drive.
The forecast maximum of 43C was mercifully not reached on Monday, but a high of 42.1C soon after 1pm was unpleasant enough to have vanquished No.5 seed Radek Stepanek saying it was the hottest tournament he had played.
Stepanek’s conqueror, Australian wildcard Joe Sirianni, said it was possible the players would look for some consideration to be given to an extreme heat policy for all tour events.
But after losing his opening doubles match with fellow Australian Nathan Healey, Hewitt was adamant the ATP Tour’s non-implementation of a heat policy, in line with that employed by the Australian Open, was the right call.
“It’s not comfortable for anyone to play sport on days like this, but that’s what it’s about though, gruelling out matches,'’ Hewitt said.
“There shouldn’t be a heat rule regardless, we’re athletes and if you don’t put in the hard yards then don’t play.
“The Australian Open is the only tournament that has a heat rule, there’s been a lot of guys cramping in the past in the US Open in tough conditions and they’ve never brought in a heat rule there.
“So it’s only fair the ATP week in week out (don’t), we’re only playing best of three sets too, so if you can’t last in that, then get a new job.'’
Hewitt and Healey went down in two and a bit sets, 6-3 7-5 and 10-8 in the match tiebreaker to American Eric Butorac and Canadian Frank Dancevic, saving Hewitt from the prospect of playing doubles and singles throughout a week of steep temperatures.
Having watched Hewitt at close quarters in his first match of the summer, Healey was impressed.
“He’s hitting the ball great, he’s fit and he’s ready to fire,'’ Healey said.
AAP