Lleyton Hewitt Interview

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Lleyton Hewitt Interview

Sunday, 15 March 2009

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Lleyton Hewitt Interview - Adelaide ATP Tour January 2007

Former world No.1
US Open Champion 2001
Wimbledon Champion 2002
Pupil to Peter Smith aged 6 – 18 yrs

Matt Wright:
“You and Peter obviously go back a long way – what are your recollections from the early stages of your association?”

Lleyton Hewitt:
“Well I first started out with Peter when I would have been about six years old, so we went back a long way. I had Sunday morning coaching every Sunday for as long as I can ever remember. He was tough on me I guess in certain areas, but we had a lot of fun at the same time and in my mind he was the best technical coach out there.”

Matt Wright:
“Obviously you have been enormously successful. What facets of your early development do you feel have contributed to this?”

Lleyton Hewitt:
“I think my technique has always been very sound from a young age, so it’s been very easy for me just to develop as a player because I’ve had such a strong base from the start, and Peter had a lot to do with that. Obviously I had a little bit of talent on my side, but Peter had to try and work with that as much as possible. My two handed backhand has always been one of my main strength’s and I think that that was something that Peter had a lot to do with”.

Matt Wright:
“You guy’s seem to have a strong on going relationship – what similarities do you share?”

Lleyton Hewitt:
“I think were both perfectionists in a lot of ways. He always wanted to see the best out of his pupils, he wanted to see them improving and becoming better players, and for me as a player, I wanted to keep on improving and try and reach my goals. I was always on the phone to Peter when I was growing up playing junior tournaments around the world - he’s always been in my corner from a young age.”

Matt Wright:
“In conclusion, as a former world No. 1 you must be a pretty good judge. What about a one-line assessment!”

Lleyton Hewitt:
“He’s a great guy and he always has who ever he’s coaching interests at heart which is the main thing. He wants to see everyone improve and obviously I guess I’ve been able to take him on a pretty good ride as well, and I’m sure he sees a lot of satisfaction in the results I’ve had over the last the last ten / fifteen years.”
Video Links
Watch Lleyton’s interview
YouTube - Federer v/s Hewitt - Greatest Rally Ever?
Watch a tribute to Peter Carter (Federer’s Coach)
Watch Darren Cahill’s interview (Agassi’s Coach)
Watch John Fitzgerald’s interview
Watch Roger Rasheed’s interview

South Australian Peter Smith has 40 years experience as a Teaching Professional.
Twice voted Australian Tennis Coach of the year, Peter is most widely known as
the long term coach of Lleyton Hewitt
He has, however, worked with a long list of other players including former World No.1
Doubles player and current Australian Davis Cup Captain John Fitzgerald who says,
“There is a great argument to say that Peter Smith has had more influence than any coach
in Australia in the past two decades in terms of producing world class players”
Peter is the Head Coach of the Peter Smith Tennis Academy in Adelaide, South Australia.
www.petersmithtennis.com www.virtualtenniscoach.com

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