Malaysian Open 2009: Lleyton Hewitt to participate in inaugural ATP 250 event

2009 Malaysian Open, Kuala Lumpur Tournament Director Nick Freyer today announced that Grand Slam champion and former world number one Lleyton Hewitt has confirmed his entry to the 2009 Malaysian Open,
Kuala Lumpur
to be played at the 16,000 seat Putra Stadium at Bukit Jalil Sports Complex, September 26 to October 4.

“We are thrilled that Lleyton has said he will be coming down to KL and his name adds to an already outstanding field which sports fans in Malaysia will be very excited about,” Freyer said. “Lleyton has shown a tremendous return to form in recent weeks. I was at Wimbledon and had a chance to watch one of his matches and he is playing with the same dynamic style that took him to the world number one ranking.”

This will be Hewitt’s first visit to Malaysia and he said he is looking forward to the experience.

“I have played in many other parts of Asia and I have always had a great time so I am keen to enjoy Malaysian hospitality which I have heard a lot about,” Hewitt said.

“To have guys like Verdasco and Soderling and Davydenko playing makes it a very strong tournament and that will make it exciting for all the fans there,” he added.

Hewitt had a tremendous run at Wimbledon where he reached the quarterfinals and gave eventual finalist Andy Roddick an incredible test that lasted almost four hours and stretched to five gruelling sets. The result was especially satisfying to Hewitt who only nine months before had undergone surgery on his right hip. He has now taken his world ranking back up to 44 after it had fallen to 108 in the early stages of his comeback following the surgery.

“After the surgery, I knew it wasn’t going to be easy to get back, it was gonna take time, but now the body’s feeling good and it’s time to keep pressing on,” Hewitt said. “You’re never a hundred percent sure after a surgery how well you’re gonna feel after that, how quickly you’re going to be able to come back and whether you’re gonna be able to compete with the best guys in the world. You know, I feel now that I’m able to do that.”

Hewitt plays with incredible determination and fire. He is exciting to watch and his shouts of “C’mon” during a match to encourage himself have become synonymous with the Australian.

“Lleyton hasn’t lost any of the fire in his belly and his never-say-die attitude on the court makes him compulsive watching,” added Freyer.

Hewitt’s entry goes alongside World No. 9 Fernando Verdasco, World No. 10 Fernando Gonzalez, World No. 11 Nikolay Davydenko, World No.12 Robin Soderling, World No. 13 Gael Monfils and Spanish Davis Cup player David Ferrer who is No. 22.

Datuk Abdul Razak Latiff, President of the Lawn Tennis Association Malaysia said: “We are very happy to see Lleyton Hewitt as part of the already amazingly strong field for the Malaysian Open, Kuala Lumpur. It is always an honour to welcome Grand Slam Champions to Malaysia and we’re delighted that Lleyton will be here alongside names like the two Fernandos and Gael and Robin.”

Check out the 2009 Malaysian Open, Kuala Lumpur website for more information: http://www.MalaysianOpenTennis.com