Lleyton Hewitt - Australia's future in Tennis
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PHILLY AT  THE W.A. OPEN - 1998

For several days the newspaper had been advertising the WA Open and the fact that Lleyton would be playing in it. A few days before it started I phoned up to see when he'd be playing, but they couldn't tell me and I would have to check the newspaper each day to find out. Surely enough, one day he was listed to play. 

I managed to convince my Mum to let me have the day off school to go and see him.  My sister and I got there and the first match was still in progress, and Lleyton was playing third.  I sat through the second game too.  About half way through the game Lleyton and his Dad were on the other side of the court. They walked around and into the stand where I was sitting. I managed to get the guts to go up to him and get him to sign my scrapbook which contains every single article on Lleyton that has been published in either WA or SA (thanks to a good friend of mine, Casey). Anyway, he signed it for me.  Later, his game started.  He won quite easily, even though I can't remember the exact scoreline.  As he was leaving the court, he tripped over this concrete slab.  It was so kewell!!!  I tried to get a photo with him, but he walked straight back to the rooms.

I'd just like to add that Lleyton won the WA Open, in singles and doubles.  Unfortunately I wasn't able to go to any more of his games.

Thanks Philly for the first Lleyton fan experience