There is probably as much chance of a home-grown male singles champion at the Australian Open as there is of Lleyton Hewitt arriving at Melbourne Park in one of the city trams, but at least the Adelaide-born former world No1 will offer the prospect of some excitement for locals when the year's first Grand Slam tournament begins in seven days.
Hewitt has been dogged by injuries in recent years, but the 32-year-old proved he can still be a threat to the very best when he beat Roger Federer 6-1, 4-6, 6-3 to claim the Brisbane International title on Sunday. It was Hewitt's first title since he beat Federer in the final at Halle four years ago.
"If I play like I did this week I have a chance of doing damage to some serious players," Hewitt said as he looked forward to the Australian Open.
"It just gives me a lot more confidence going out there believing in how well I'm hitting the ball at the moment and that I can match up with the best guys. Obviously it's a different stage, winning three sets out of five against those guys, but that's why I still play the game."
Australia has not had a home male singles champion since Mark Edmondson in 1976, though Hewitt went close nine years ago, when he lost to Marat Safin in the final. There have been hopes that Bernard Tomic might restore Australian glory, but the 21-year-old has yet to realise fully the potential he showed as world junior No1.
