Tennis: Hewitt tames Raonic at Kooyong

MELBOURNE: Australian veteran Lleyton Hewitt tamed big-serving Milos Raonic, 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 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 is happy to be competing pain-free after several years of injury problems. “I feel mentally fresh and excited to be playingut pain,” said Hewitt. “The last few years have been frustrating, trying to play with injuries. 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.”

Published in The Express Tribune, January 10^th, 2013.