Tennis News

After lifting the title for the first time in his career last season with a victory over 17-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer, Lleyton Hewitt has returned to the Brisbane International to defend his title and start his 2015 season on the right track. The Australian will begin his year with a match-up against fellow countryman Sam Groth, a youngster with a notable upside to his game.

The two-time Grand Slam champion and 30 title winner will commence yet another year on the professional tour – one that will be filled with challenges, including younger competitors from his own nation. Apart from Groth, Hewitt will have to maintain his spot against Thanasi Kokkinakis and Nick Kyrgios, both of whom are hungry and ambitious players. After lifting his first title on Australian soil since 2005 here last season, Hewitt is focused on retaining that crown before looking ahead.

“It’s great to be back,” said Hewitt,. “I like playing all the tournaments in Australia and [I’m] obviously coming back from such good memories here last year.

“In my off season I always work pretty hard so I feel comfortable and I’m happy with how the body is feeling at the moment,” said Hewitt. “I’ve just got to go out there and play my game and hopefully execute. I’ve been training really hard and doing all the right things.”

World No. 81 Sam Groth has drawn Hewitt in his first professional match of the year. A win would be a significant upset over the defending champion, while a loss would simply be expected at this point in time. However, Groth does believe he is a considerable foe across the net.

“I definitely think the guys see me as a dangerous player – especially early in tournaments and early in the year. I don’t know too many guys [who] want to see me throwing rockets down at them and getting into the net and lot letting them find much rhythm.”

This marks the first time that these two competitors will meet on the professional tour. Based on Hewitt’s resume and his past performances at this event, he should remain the favourite to win this contest and advance to the next round.

Prediction: Lleyton Hewitt in Straight Sets

After taking part in a disappointing, injury-plagued season on the tour, former top-ranked talent Victoria Azarenka will begin her 2015 season at the Brisbane International, where she will contest an opening round match against Karolina Pliskova. The Belarusian leads the head-to-head series 1-0.

The former world No. 1 concluded her 2014 season after withdrawing from the Wuhan Open. She finished her year ranked outside the Top 20 for the first time in seven years after missing seven scheduled events and dealing with a slew of injuries over the year. She also went through a depressing period in her life but is happy to have worked her way out of it.

“I feel great, you know those things you go through in life,” she said. “It is just because you are a public person and sometimes you feel like you don’t want to have it out in the open for people to discuss. You have to find your own way through it and I found my way to be happy regardless of what the situation is.”

As for this season, Azarenka hopes to get off to a strong start like she did last year when she finished runner-up to Serena Williams at the tournament. It was downhill from there but she is determined to make 2015 a different season – starting with a strong performance against Karolina Pliskova on Monday.

World No. 23 Karolina Pliskova had an impressive year on the tour in 2015, where she won two titles and finished with a 54-29 record for the year. She reached the third round of the US Open and the second round of the remaining Grand Slam tournaments, which was an improvement from previous years. She will hope to maintain her upward trajectory in 2015, beginning with a victory over a former world No. 1.

This marks just the second time that these two competitors will cross paths on the professional tour, with Azarenka leading the series 1-0. Not only will be it be difficult to effectively gauge the winner ahead of their first match of the season, it will be particularly difficult with Azarenka, who has not been in a professional tennis match since September.

Prediction: Karolina Pliskova in Three Sets

Andy Murray lifted the Mubadala World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi following Novak Djokovic’s withdrawal from the tournament. It appears the Serb came down with an illness and was forced to surrender the title to Murray.

The British No. 1 won the $250,000 prize for first place, but was disappointed he didn’t want to

“Unfortunately I am not to be able to play in the final in Abu Dhabi tonight,” Djokovic announced. “I’ve been sick today with a fever and I’m not fit to play. I said after my match last night, the crowds here have shown their love of tennis again this year and always inspire me to play my best, so I am hugely disappointed not to be able to play for them.”I’ve had another great weekend in Abu Dhabi, meeting fans and coaching young players, and played some great tennis against the best players in the world.

“I love being a part of this tournament and I’m really disappointed not be able to take my chance of winning the trophy here again. Congratulations to Andy. It’s a shame I couldn’t play him today, but I’m sure we will meet again soon.”

While he did not get to take part in the final, Murray did begin his season with two consecutive victories over Feliciano Lopez and then a thrashing of Rafael Nadal 6-2, 6-0.

“It’s always nice to win and it gives that little bit of extra confidence,” the Scot commented. “I was really happy with the way I was playing in the matches that I did play so it’s a great start to the year. It would have been perfect to play today, especially against Novak, but of course it’s not been possible due to his illness so I’ll celebrate the victory.”

While Nadal only won two games against Murray on Friday, he was able to defeat Stan Wawrinka 7-6(1), 6-3 to secure third place at the event.

“I did make some mistakes, but in general I feel I played a positive match against another tough opponent,” Nadal explained. “So it is good to have this test and for me it is great to have an opportunity to play these two matches in Abu Dhabi and I thank the organizers for giving me this chance.

“The work I came to do here I believe is done, and I really hope these two matches will help me moving forward.”