Australian Hopes: Lleyton Hewitt And Alicia Molik
By Ken Miller, Lawn Tennis Correspondent, Posted: Friday, December 7, 2007 1:45pm CST USA
In mid-January of 2008 the country of Australia will support its top
tennis players to try to increase their chances of an Australian Open win. Two Australians have enjoyed some recent success at Melbourne, but have not
yet won the singles titles.
In 2005 Lleyton Hewitt defeated world number two Andy Roddick before losing later in the final. That same year
Alicia Molik surprised Wimbledon champion Venus Williams 7-5, 7-6(7-3) but then lost to Lindsay Davenport in the quarterfinals. Here we take a closer
look at both players.
Photo by ATP
Photo by Getty Images
Tennis Player
Lleyton Hewitt
Alicia Molik
Birthdate
February 24, 1981
January 27, 1981
Age
26
26
Height
5' 11'' (180 cm)
5' 11 3/4'' (1.82 m)
Weight
170 lbs (77 kg)
159 lbs. (72 kg)
Place Of Birth
Adelaide, Australia
Adelaide, Australia
Residence
Adelaide, Australia
Melbourne, Australia
Plays
Right-handed
Right-handed
Turned Pro
1998
1996
ATP/WTA Tour Rank
21
56
Career Record
466 - 150
292-207
Career High Ranking
1 (November 19, 2001)
8 (February 28, 2005)
Singles Tournaments Won
26
5
Career Earnings
$17,271,212
$2,845,937
Grand Slams Won
2 (Wimbledon-1, US Open-1)
0
Weapon
All court game, speed, defensive abilities
Serve, groundstrokes, all court game
Best Australian Open Result
Finalist in 2005 (lost to Marat Safin 1-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4)
Quarterfinalist in 2005 (lost to Lindsay Davenport 6-4, 4-6, 9-7)
Greatest Win
Wimbledon in 2002
Olympics bronze medal in 2004
2007 Australian Open Result
Lost in the 3rd round to 10th seeded Chilean Fernando Gonzalez 6-2, 6-2, 5-7, 6-4.
Lost in the the 3rd round to 8th seeded Patty Schnyder of Switzerland 3-6, 6-2, 6-0.
Facts
In 2001, became the youngest male ever to be ranked number one.
Won her first grand slam doubles title at 2005 Australian Open with Svetlana Kuznetsova.
