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June 11
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TIME TO COOL IT SON - by John Firsk
13th June, 1999
IT'S high time Lleyton Hewitt grew up.
That's the stinging message from Davis Cup coach John Newcombe, who says the brilliant
youngster is going too far with his bad temper on court.
Newcombe has told Hewitt he must mend his ways in a burning blast that has been backed by
Hewitt's coach Darren Cahill, Davis Cup mentor Tony Roche and the entire Davis Cup team.
Hewitt's angry outbursts during his first-round loss at the French Open earned him a good
caning from the media.
"He deserved it too," Newcombe said. "He is an 18-year-old we all like and
he has a great future, but he deserved the post-match publicity.
"But Australia can rest assured that steps are being taken to ensure Lleyton does not
ruin his career because of over-the-top antics.
"I have no doubt in my mind that Lleyton will get things together from now on.
"Apart from his great natural talent and court speed, he has a fire-in-the-belly
attitude to compliment it. In combat, this can become one of your strongest allies, or
your worst enemy."
Newcombe said it was vital for Hewitt's career that he learned to control this force and
make it a positive.
"Darren has been terrific as Lleyton's travelling coach, but he won't be around for
long if the youngster's on-court misdemeanours continue," Newcombe said.
"Pat Rafter has been very good to Lleyton since we brought him into the Davis Cup
squad two years ago.
"And he had a heart-to-heart talk to him in Paris.
"I know Lleyton thinks the world of Pat and would have taken it all on board."
Newcombe said he and Roche hoped the media would see Hewitt's outbursts
as part of a painful learning curve.
"I've got to know Lleyton very well over the last two years and consider him a nice
young man, apart from his enormous talent," Newcombe said. "After conquering the
fire-in-the-belly syndrome myself at a young age,
I believe I have given him some solid advice in that area.
"Hopefully any future flare-ups will result in positive wins rather than negative
losses."
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