Roger Federer and Lleyton Hewitt will face off in an anticipated round of 16 match Monday at the Australian Open, after Federer defeated Albert Montanes 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 and Hewitt defeated Marcos Baghdatis 6-0, 4-2, ret. (shoulder injury). The rivalry between the future Hall of Famers dates back to 1996 when the two 15-year-olds played in the World Youth Cup in Zurich, Switzerland, Federer winning that match 4-6, 7-6, 6-4 after saving a match point. As professionals, Federer leads the series 16-7, Hewitt winning seven of the first nine matches and Federer winning the last 14 matches. The last time Hewitt beat Federer was actually on the very same court where they will due battle Monday – Rod Laver Arena. It was back in 2003, in the fourth rubber of the 2003 Davis Cup semifinal between Switzerland and Australia. Rene Stauffer, author of the book THE ROGER FEDERER STORY: QUEST FOR PERFECTION ($24.95, New Chapter Press, www.RogerFedererBook.com) discusses the circumstances of that epic match in this exclusive book excerpt below.
After Hewitt opened the series with an easy win over Michel Kratochvil, Federer defeated Philippoussis 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (3) in a rematch of the Wimbledon final. In the pivotal doubles rubber, Federer and the aging Marc Rosset were defeated in five-sets by Wayne Arthurs and Todd Woodbridge, giving Australia the important 2-1 advantage after the second day of play. Switzerland had to sweep the final two singles matches in order to reach the Davis Cup final.
Federer and Hewitt took to the Rod Laver Arena on a cool Sunday to open up the final day of play and Federer leisurely dominated Hewitt and stared at his 11th consecutive Davis Cup singles victory leading 7-5, 6-2, 5-3. With Federer two points from victory, the tide turned. A brief lull in Federer’s performance was enough for Hewitt, carried by 12,000 spectators, to fight his way back into the match.
After winning the third set in a tie-break and the fourth set 7-5, the match was tied at two-sets apiece. The temperatures were so cold at the start of the fifth set that many of the Swiss journalists could barely take notes on the match their fingers were so stiff and frigid. Christine Ungricht, the President of Swiss Tennis, complained to the Swiss media that she felt the Australians had intentionally left the retractable roof of the Laver Arena open to give Hewitt an advantage in the colder conditions. “They want to give Federer hypothermia,” she said. “What they’re doing is not against the rules but I’m going to complain anyways.”
Hewitt’s momentum was too difficult for Federer to overcome and the Aussie won the epic match 5-7, 2-6, 7-6 (4), 7-5, 6-1, allowing Australia to reach the Davis Cup final. Hewitt’s chest swelled with pride as he explained that he thought constantly of Pat Cash’s comeback from a two-sets-to-love deficit against Mikael Pernfors of Sweden during the 1986 Davis Cup Final. Federer, who didn’t show up in the interview room until two hours after the defeat, meekly said: “I couldn’t be more frustrated.” The flight back to Europe was torture for him. Every time he awoke, his body and his soul ached.
Federer no longer held great hopes of becoming No. 1 in the world for 2003. “Roddick and Ferrero deserved to be ranked in front of me,” he said before the start of the indoor season. “Ferrero is the best clay court player and Roddick is the best hard-court player. This fall, I simply want to prove that I’m the best indoor player.” He had no such luck. Although he defeated Carlos Moya in the final of Vienna to successfully defend a title for the first time in his career, the remainder of the fall season did not produce the results he desired.