TENNIS 4 YOU

Lleyton Hewitt

Right-handed

Birthdate: 24th February, 1981

Born: Adelaide, Australia

Turned Pro: 1998

Residence: Adelaide, Australia

Height: 5'10'' (180 cm)

Weight: 170 lbs (77 kg)

Statistics for 2006

ATP Entry system postion : 4  Points: 2490 Tournaments played: 17

Career Review

Singles record: 398-119

Singles titles: 24

Doubles titles: 2

Career prizemoney: US $15,962,457

Tommy Haas won the eighth ATP title of his career, but Xavier Malisse made him earn it, 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(5) in the 14th Delray Beach International Tennis Championships.

The win pushed Haas' impressive early-season record to 11-2 and ended a title drought for the 27-year-old German that had dated back to 2004. The German's win in his first Delray Beach appearance denied Malisse a chance to become the tournament's third two-time winner.

But until Malisse's forehand sailed long after a racquet string snapped with Haas up 6-5 in the tiebreaker, it was anyone's guess who would win this match.

"It was extremely good tennis from beginning to end," understated Haas.
"Based on Xavier's record in Delray Beach I'm proud to beat him here. He's a solid player, moves well and it showed today. I thought I was playing pretty good and when I needed to step it up a level, I did.

The first break of the deciding set didn't come until the seventh game when Malisse went ahead 4-3. Haas broke back to 4-4 and the pair held serve the rest of the way. Haas went up 4-1 in the tiebreaker but Malisse came back at 4-4. Haas took the next two points to make it 6-4 and then had his first match point on Malisse's serve. Malisse held but Haas then served successfully for the match.

"He wasn't making any mistakes, " said Malisse, who has played in two finals in his first three tournaments of 2006. "I just had to keep grinding and I had to play more aggressive in the second and third sets and it worked well for me."

Both Haas and Malisse played close to textbook tennis in splitting the first two sets. Haas went up a break in the sixth game to win the first set and Malisse got his break in the eighth game of the second set.

"I was pleased with my game overall (this week)," said Haas. "I could have lost two matches here so this is a good result."

Despite the loss, Malisse was positive about his week in Delray Beach and his fourth trip to the finals here. "I'm feeling good about my game--two finals in three touraments. I didn't expect that great a start."

In the doubles final, Mark Knowles and Daniel Nestor won their 33rd title together in 54 finals, beating Chris Haggard and Wesley Moodie 6-2, 6-3.

World No. 2 Rafael Nadal is set to make his return to the ATP circuit February 13 at the Open 13 in Marseille. Nadal has not played since winning his 11th title of 2005 at Masters Series Madrid in late October. The Spaniard has been sidelined with a left foot injury which forced him to miss the 2005 Tennis Masters Cup and the Australian Open.

Nadal played and won an exhibition match against Fabrice Santoro in France on Saturday.

Nadal, who won Roland Garros and a joint-record four ATP Masters Series titles last year as he amassed a 79-10 match record, has said that he expects to play Marseille, Rotterdam, Dubai and then ATP Masters Series events in Indian Wells and Miami.

"I feel well and better and I only have one week and a half left before I return in Marseille. The tournament starts on the 13th and I hope to be there if nothing happens," Nadal told news agency AS.

"I haven't been playing tournaments for three months and a half. It will be difficult at the beginning and I'll have to pass some difficult moments in the first tournaments. My goal is to arrive at the first two Masters Series events of the year in Indian Wells and Miami in good physical condition."