Hewitt Hangs on to Capture Hall of Fame Championships Title

Third time’s a charm.

At least it is for Australian Lleyton Hewitt who was playing in his third straight title match at the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships in Newport, Rhode Island. The former world number one failed in his first two tries in 2012 and 2013 but defeated Croatian Ivo Karlovic 6-4, 6-7(4), 7-6(3) on Sunday to capture the trophy.

“Obviously relief to have finally won here,” said Hewitt. “It’s an important tournament, not a grand slam by no means, but the last three years I’ve come here and put myself on the line and come awfully close the last two years. It was nice to get rewarded today.”

After losing to John Isner in 2012 and Nicholas Mahut in 2013, Hewitt entered the 2014 championships with some unfinished business to take care of. He cruised in the first set after picking up a break point in the third game and would take the opening frame 6-4 before playing a tough second set.

The Australian led 5-3 and had an opportunity to close out the match if he hold serve. Karlovic stood firm and broke the 33-year old’s serve to move within 5-4 and would eventually come back to win the second set in a tiebreaker.

Thus, the match would enter a deciding third set and each player would utilize their respective serve to pick up games. Neither Hewitt nor Karlovic had their serve broken in the third which sent the deciding frame into a tiebreaker.

Hewitt jumped first on the tiebreaker, and broke the Croatian’s serve in the first, fifth and ninth points to seize control. Then serving for the match, Hewitt forced Karlovic to hit a return just long which sealed the match and victory.

“Even though I didn't play my best, I was fighting," said Karlovic, who ripped 26 aces. “I was trying to turn it around and I was able to do it in the third set."

Karlovic had a powerful serve all afternoon but had it broken three times in the deciding tiebreaker. Hewitt’s return game picked up in the third set which allowed him to hang on to the win.

“When he’s making a lot of serves, it’s tough to get into his service game,” said Hewitt. “I think my passing shots and returns are probably as good as anyone out there. In the third set tiebreaker, I returned really well.”

The win notches the 30th career ATP title for Lleyton Hewitt, and he followed it up later that day by winning the doubles title with fellow countryman Chris Guccione.