14th July, 2012
Former world number one Lleyton Hewitt reached the final of the ATP Hall of Fame Championships Saturday with a three-set victory over American Rajeev Ram.
Hewitt, a former Wimbledon and US Open champion, reached his first ATP final in more than two years with a 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 victory over former Newport champion Ram.
Hewitt, who received a wild card into the draw, was playing in his first semi-final since June 2010, when he captured the grass court title in Halle.
He next faces either defending Newport champion John Isner or American Ryan Harrison.
Top-seeded Isner advanced to the semi-finals with a victory over qualifier Izak van der Merwe, while Harrison advanced when Germany’s Benjamin Becker retired with a hamstring injury trailing 6-4, 3-0 in their quarter-final.
Harrison, through to his third semi-final of the season, was seeking a first ATP tour final.
“I know John really well. We’ve played Davis Cup together,” Harrison said. “I’ve been training with him a lot. He knows my game, and I know his game, so it’s going to be a fun match.”
Hewitt rallied from an early break in both the first and third sets, finally wrapping up the victory in 2 hours and 21 minutes.
The 31-year-old Aussie was pleased to keep his run going on the grass courts of Newport.
“It’s fantastic, obviously,” said Hewitt, who is again battling back from injury after undergoing radical foot surgery in February.
“It’s been a tough start to the year after making the fourth round at the Australian Open then I had to have surgery … this is hopefully just the start.”