Darren Cahill recalls first Hewitt encounter: "Damn, that boy is good!"
Darren Cahill brought Lleyon Hewitt onto the world stage as a coach. On the verge of Hewitt's induction into the Tennis Hall of Fame , Cahill is reminiscing about old times.
by Florian Goosmann
last edit: Jul 17, 2022, 11:24 pm
Darren Cahill is of course best known in today's tennis business as a TV expert and coach of Andre Agassi and Simona Halep. But right after his own career (Cahill was once number 22 in the world), Cahill spent his first major coaching time with Lleyton Hewitt.
It was in the early 1990s when Cahill - at the time due to persistent knee problems with an early career end - received a visit. He knew Hewitt's parents, so Lleyton was in front of him. 12 years young, "steel-eyed, fully focused," as Cahill recalled in a story for ATP . It wasn't a long interview. "Hi, I'm Lleyton, shall we play?" Cahill said he was amused, fascinated and intimidated at the same time.
Hewitt wanted to play a few sets quickly, but Cahill, a 28-year-old who had just retired, didn't have any problems here. The kick serve quickly caused problems for Hewitt, but after two sets the tide turned. Hewitt took the returns early, served on Cahill's forehand ("which I hated"), lured him forward with ugly balls and overlobbed. The "C'monnnn", which was also to become Hewitt's trademark on the tour, was "heard five streets away."
When he ran to his (today's) wife after training, he was amazed: "Damn, the boy is good! He's going to be someone special." One of those rare days when you just know things, says Cahill.
He should be right.
"It flows through his veins Newcombe, Laver, Emerson and Rosewall"
The first duel against Roger Federer, who was coached by Cahill's buddy Peter Carter at the time, was particularly memorable for the coach. And of course Hewitt's first major win in 2001 at the US Open over Pete Sampras.
What particularly impressed him about Hewitt: "Lleyton's DNA was unlike most. He turned an individual sport into a team sport and used his Aussie Rules background to rally people around him like teammates (...) Maybe stuck a hint of Connors, McEnroe and Nastase in him, but there's also a lot of Newcombe, Laver, Emerson and Rosewall running through his veins."
Cahill on Hewitt: "Unsurpassed work ethic"
In addition to his solo performances (two majors) and number 1 (twice at the end of the year), Hewitt excelled in the Davis Cup in particular, but unfortunately had to deal with injuries early on, and competition from Federer and Rafael Nadal also prevented more.
Cahill said he left a legacy in Australia with his style. "He had a purpose, he came back with resilience, he oozed faith and had a work ethic that was second to none."
And the induction into the Hall of Fame: is of course well deserved.