Just to help pass the time until Tuesday
Hewitt avoids politics and keeps open mind
By Bill Scott in Houston
November 14, 2004
The Sun-Herald
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With off-court political and financial feuds set to explode at the Masters Cup in Houston this week, Lleyton Hewitt will aim to keep his head down as he looks ahead to the Australian Open.
The second and final year of the eight-man season finale at a mid-market club set amid the urban sprawl of this muggy city hardly seems the setting for what has traditionally been a class-act event.
But the ATP, with lame-duck supremo Mark Miles set to step down next season after 15 years in the line of fire, is paying the price for the bucket of quick bucks it grabbed from a larger-than-life furniture salesman with a fat chequebook.
The 2003 event drew heavy criticism from European players after promoter Jim "Mad Dog" McIngvale donned a stars-and-stripes shirt, screamed support during matches for Andre Agassi and Andy Roddick and generally made foreigners feel unwelcome.
But 12 months ago, the bantam-rooster Texan who has made his millions touting lounge suites through tawdry, loud television adverts, at least got on with Miles.
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AdvertisementOnce the Masters Cup was returned to Shanghai for at least the next three years, all hell broke loose.
"I don't mind telling the truth about the guy," McIngvale said. "He's worthless. Mark Miles has done nothing for tennis."
That kind of sentiment should make for an ice-cold ambience around the VIP cocktail bar as the event goes through the motions.
"All he wants to do is propagate his $700,000-a-year salary and keep flying first-class tickets all over the world," McIngvale said.
"I don't think he's good for the game at all."
But Miles will also be taking heat from European Masters Series bosses, angry that top stars - including Hewitt - didn't bother to front up at either Madrid or Paris, or both, in recent weeks.
"We have a common view with our European partners," said Alain Riou, organiser of the Paris event.
"We all believe that the situation which we went through in Paris [late injury withdrawals by Roger Federer, Agassi, Carlos Moya and David Nalbandian] is unbearable. "We cannot tolerate it because it's bad for tennis, it's bad for the credibility of tennis."
Hewitt has his own worries, with his nemesis Federer in his red group with Carlos Moya, who is struggling with a shoulder injury, and Roland Garros winner Gaston Gaudio.
The blue group comprises Marat Safin, Roddick, Guillermo Coria and Tim Henman.
Federer has put Hewitt out of three of this year's four grand slam events. But the Australian has his eyes on a bigger target. "For me, obviously the big picture is the Australian Open in a couple months' time," Hewitt said.
With Federer locked in at world No.1 for months, the battle is on for second between Hewitt, Roddick and Safin, champion at Madrid and Paris Bercy.
"The other years that I've played the Masters, I've gone there with a lot of pressure and expectation," Hewitt said. "This year I think I'll go there with a little bit more open mind-set and really try and work on my game.
"Playing against the other seven best players in the world, it's a good chance to see where your game's at before a grand slam."
Not being able to challenge for the No.1 spot doesn't worry Hewitt.
"For me, if I can have either the Masters now or the Australian Open later, I know which one I'd take."
now just make sure I see you winning marat!!!
now just make sure I see you winning marat!!!
) and if he comes i soooo wanna go see it!! ;D
I just know that he won Madrid and Paris, so probably this would give him a lot of confidence which he always needs. So theoretically it should be another good turney for him..., BUT we know Marat and he always likes to surprise us, so we can never be sure about his game, and those previous victories don't mean that he will take everything now... 
*sigh* 
