Hewitt tames Raonic serve at Kooyong

MELBOURNE (AFP) –

Lleyton Hewitt of Australia during a Brisbane International game against Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan on January 3, 2013. Hewitt tamed big-serving Milos Raonic on Wednesday, surviving 20 aces from the Canadian to post an opening 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (7-4) win at the Kooyong Classic.

Australian veteran Lleyton Hewitt tamed big-serving Milos Raonic on Wednesday, surviving 20 aces from the Canadian to post an opening 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (7-4) win at the Kooyong Classic in Melbourne.

Hewitt, bidding to recapture the title he lifted in 2011, reeled off six consecutive points in the third set tie-break after world number 15 Raonic seized a 3-0 lead.

The 31-year-old former world number one sealed victory on his second opportunity after Raonic had saved a match point with an ace.

Hewitt will be playing in a record 17th straight Australian Open when the first major of the season starts on Monday.

And the former Wimbledon and US Open champion, who has slipped to 82nd in the world rankings, is happy to be competing pain-free after several years of foot and toe problems.

“I feel mentally fresh and just excited to be playing without pain,” said Hewitt. “The last few years have been frustrating, trying to play with injuries.

Argentina’s Juan Martin Del Potro during his ATP World Tour final against Serbia’s Novak Djokovic on November 11, 2012. Del Potro on Wednesday beat Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (7-3).

“I’m amazed at how many Opens I’ve played, but I don’t focus on the record — it only makes me think how old I am. But when I retire I’ll be pretty proud of it.”

Hewitt said he had enjoyed some luck during the tie-break.

“I just had to guess on his serve and I had some luck in the breaker. He has one of the biggest serves in the game and I had to be hanging there and wait for my opportunities.

“When I was down in the tie-breaker I was able to play some good points,” he added.

Argentine Juan Martin del Potro beat Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu, a late substitute for injured Argentine Juan Monaco, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (7-3).

“It was a tight match to start the year, I tried to play the best I could. The weather was sometimes horrible to play in with the wind and the sun,” said del Potro.

“But this is a very good chance to prepare for the Australian Open.”

Del Potro will next play 2006 Australian Open finalist Marcos Baghdatis, a 6-1, 1-0 winner after Janko Tipsarevic quit with a wrist injury.

The Serb said he won the Chennai title last weekend with the aid of pain-killers.

Tomas Berdych beat Ivan Dodig of Croatia, who replaced injured Kei Nishikori of Japan, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3.