Hewitt ready to savour buzz on Wimbledon grass

Now, as Monday’s start to the defence of the title that means more to him than any other, the first tingles of nervous excitement have begun to kick in.

“Its going to be a special momement,” the 22-year-old said. “Winning that final last year was something I’d dreamed about it and that’s what comes with it. It’s part of the tradition of winning the tournament here.

“Its a buzz just to walk in the place – you can feel the tradition. If there is one place I’d like to walk back in as champion it’s here. It’s a real special feeling.”

For all his ability to ensconce himself in something akin to a fiercely competitive trance while out on court, Hewitt is not immune to nerves.

It has, however, been Davis Cup matches which have tended to get under his skin in the past and his two Grand Slam finals to date — the 2001 US Open and last year at Wimbledon — have both concluded with accomplished victories.

“You can’t help thinking about what you’re playing for but I blocked it out as much as possible,” he said.

“No doubt come Monday that’s when it all starts and the nerves will be flying the most. You get pretty eager just to get out there and play the match and get into the tournament,” Hewitt said. Although the Australian lost his world No.1 ranking to Andre Agassi last week, his superior recent record on grass has seen him installed as the top seed.

The draw however has not been kind to him.

After an opening match against an opponent who will have been battle-hardened by coming through qualifying he has the powerful Taylor Dent and Belarussian Max Mirnyi lurking along his path to a potential quarter-final against Andy Roddick.

His credentials as a potential champion at the All England Club were underlined by his win in last week’s warm-up tournament at Queen’s.

Hewitt admits the draw looks about as tough as any he has been handed in a Grand Slam since ascending to the top of the men’s game, although he is understandably wary of looking beyond his opening encounter.

“A lot depends on how it pans out. A lot of Grand Slam draws can look tough at the beginning and then open up.”

Despite his early exit from Queen’s, where he had won for the previous three years, Hewitt strikes a bullish tone when asked to assess the current state of his game.

“I wasn’t hitting the ball as well as I’d like last week but since then in practice I feel like I’ve stepped it up a notch or two.

“I’m where I want to be and hopefully I can just keep it going until Monday.”

Many observers have detected an attempt by Hewitt to curb the more aggressive manifestations of his competitive edge. The famous fist-pumping after winners is rarely directed towards an opponent, as sometimes it was in the past.

But if he has changed, Hewitt insists he has not done so consciously.

“It (the fist-pumping) was never something I felt was directed at any opponent although some people say that was the case. It is not something I consciously think about.”

The competitive drive, he says, is such an ingrained part of his character that he cannot recall a time when he was without it.

“I don’t know where it comes from but I’ve got that never-say-die attitude that means it doesn’t matter what situation I’m in I still believe I can pull through and get out of there.”

At 22, Hewitt can still do a passable impersonation of a defensive, chippy teenager.

Yet he is also surprisingly enamoured of Wimbledon’s defence of its traditions, notably its all-white clothing code.

“I sort of enjoy it,” he revealed. “You know the tradition and I think it comes with playing on grass, so it doesn’t bother me at all.”

That said, as a good Aussie, Hewitt admits he “probably won’t miss” being required to bow to members of the British Royal family — one Wimbledon tradition which has, for the first time this year, been done away with.