MELBOURNE, Australia — It was finally time to go for Lleyton Hewitt, and although it might have been time to go rather sooner, who could begrudge him this?
One last singles match under the spotlights at age 34 at the tournament he has played more than any other. One more chance to scrap and give it his all with his family, friends and compatriots urging him on in the stands and with Australia tuned in, from Perth to Sydney to his home city, Adelaide.
“I just felt this was the perfect place to finish,” Hewitt said as he spoke to the crowd in Rod Laver Arena with his three young children beside him.