Hewitt Makes Impressive Start in Quest for Fifth Title

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Former World No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt began his quest for a record fifth title at The Artois Championships with a comfortable 6-4, 6-4 victory over British wild card Josh Goodall on the opening day at The Queen’s Club.

After suffering a surprise defeat at the hands of Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in his opening match a year ago, the former Wimbledon and US Open champion was pleased to make a winning start this time around.

“It's different when you get in your first match on a different surface,” said Hewitt. “That was a good knock because I felt like I served smartly throughout the match, hit my spots well when I needed to. On my returns, I felt like I was putting a lot more pressure on him than he was on my service games.”

Hewitt, seeded No. 11 this year, needed just 72 minutes to overcome the challenge posed by Goodall, the 22-year-old from Basingstoke whose winless streak in ATP matches now extends to seven.

The 27-year-old from Adelaide, making his 11th consecutive appearance at The Queen’s Club, is looking to add to the titles he captured here in 2000-02 and 2006. Another victory this week would see the Australian surpass the record he currently shares with Andy Roddick, John McEnroe and Boris Becker, and he says he is excited to be back at The Artois Championships for another shot at the title.

“I've always thought they're as good a grass [courts] as I've ever played on,” said Hewitt. “Amazing how good a nick they're always in every year we come back here. I've always had a lot of success here, which has been nice, as well.”

For Goodall, who fired 13 aces in his first grass court match of the season, there was plenty to take back to his training base in Sutton. “I was reasonably happy,” said Goodall. “Obviously, my first match on grass this year, against Lleyton Hewitt, one of the top grass court players in the last decade. I was a little bit tentative at the start in a few parts of my game. Other parts, I was really happy, my serve and my volleying. That hasn't been my game style, and that's what I'm trying to work more towards. Overall, I think there were more positives than negatives.”

Elsewhere on the opening day, Croatia’s Mario Ancic overcame Ecuador’s Nicolas Lapentti 7-5, 6-3 to set up a second round meeting with Spanish lefty Fernando Verdasco, who was handed victory when Hyung-Taik Lee retired with a left knee injury midway through the first set.

Meanwhile, Robby Ginepri earned a second round showdown with good friend, countryman and defending champion Roddick after he defeated Vince Spadea 6-4, 7-6(4) to continue the kind of form he showed by reaching the fourth round of the French Open.