SPORTS
The former Wimbledon champion has promised to give third seed Novak Djokovic a 'run for his money' in their last 16 clash on Monday.
Former Wimbledon champion Lleyton Hewitt has promised to give third seed Novak Djokovic a "run for his money" in their last 16 clash on Monday.
Djokovic will be expecting nothing less from a grasscourt warrior who has more victories on turf than any other active player in the sport -- Roger Federer included.
Their tussle, which will be only their fifth career meeting, is the pick of the men's fourth-round action as the tournament swings towards its climax and it looks a hard one to call.
Australian Hewitt fired the first shots in what is set to be a battle of wills after an impressive defeat of Frenchman Gael Monfils sent him into the second week here for a seventh straight year.
"I've always played with my heart on my sleeve," Hewitt, who now has 101 career wins on grass, said.
"Doesn't matter what the situation is. If I'm up for the fight, it's going to show at the right times.
"I always go out there and give myself a chance. I guess in the pecking order here, out of the top four guys, Novak is probably the fourth out of those on grass right at the moment.
"I'm going to go out there and take it to him and see what I''ve got. It's a step up. But if I go out there the way I've been hitting the ball, I can give him a run for his money."
Hewitt, who won the 2002 Wimbledon title before Federer's era began, endured hip problems in recent years but his tenacity and court coverage remain undiminished and he has fully justified being bumped up to 15th in the seedings.
A week before Wimbledon began he made everybody sit up and take notice in the Halle final when he became only the second player to beat Federer on grass since 2002.
He has carried that form into Wimbledon but Djokovic presents a formidable challenge, especially as the Serb's confidence has soared since surviving a first-round scare against Belgium's Olivier Rochus.
He backed that up with wins against Taylor Dent and Albert Montanes and looks a far more relaxed figure than the rather gloomy individual beaten by Tommy Haas here last year.
Djokovic was a semi-finalist at Wimbledon in 2007 and enjoys playing on grass -- even sharpening his volleying skills at Queen's Club where he won his first career doubles title.
Prone to some introspective moods on court but known as a bit of a prankster off it, the 23-year-old will have to be on top his game to fend off the relentless Hewitt
"I will have two days to help me to work on my game a little bit and get physically and mentally fit for the upcoming challenge," Djokovic said.
Just as well, because Hewitt will not give him a minute's peace on Monday.
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