Hewitt slumps to first round defeat in Toronto
Steve Keating
World number one Lleyton Hewitt crashed out 2-6 6-4 6-3 to 55th-ranked Felix Mantilla of Spain in the opening round of the $2.95 million Canada Tennis Masters on Monday.
The 21-year-old Australian, who has spent the last three weeks basking in the glow of his Wimbledon triumph, could not shake off the rust as he began the hardcourt season and the build-up to his U.S. Open title defence with a stunning defeat.
"It's tough to come out and play your first match on hardcourt after three weeks off," said Hewitt.
"I wasn't expecting heaps coming in here but I would have liked to get a few more matches in and get a little more match tough for the American hardcourt season. But he played extremely well, a lot better than I expected."
The top seed broke Mantilla's serve to go 2-1 up and again to lead 5-2 before serving out the opening set. But Mantilla hit back to take a 5-4 lead in the second before heavy rain forced a two-hour delay.
When the players returned to the floodlit court Mantilla, who has advanced beyond the second round just once in his last 16 tournaments, claimed the decisive break to level the match at one set apiece.
In the third set, Hewitt held serve only once as Mantilla registered his second career win over a world number one.
"To be honest I really surprised myself," said Mantilla, whose other victory over a world number one was against Pete Sampras at Indian Wells three years ago.
SPECIAL WIN
"Today was a very special win for me because I have been playing so bad the last months. Today I believe I recovered part of my game. Maybe it was the best win of my career."
Tim Henman also returned to the court for the first time since Wimbledon, the fourth-seeded Briton recording a confidence-boosting 6-4 6-4 win over Spain's Fernando Vicente to became the first player to register 40 victories this season.
"It's a different phase," said Henman assessing the hardcourt season. "After Wimbledon it was good to have a break and get recharged mentally and physically.
"For a few days after it is pretty depressing but you have to move on. I didn't do anything too demanding, I was just happy to rest and see family and friends."
Roger Federer joined Hewitt out of the exit door, the 10th-seeded Swiss succumbing to the heat and Argentina's Guillermo Canas 7-6 (12-10) 7-5.
The defeat extended a run of poor form for Federer, who has won only five matches since capturing his first Masters Series title in Hamburg in May.
Included in the string of disappointing efforts were first round exits at the French Open, Wimbledon, Rome and Halle.
"It's not easy at the moment, I'm not on a high that's for sure," said Federer. "I had chances in the first set but it just shows I'm missing a little bit of confidence.
"I'm really struggling big time in the heat like this. I don't play very often in these conditions. In Europe you never get this kind of humidity."
Australian Open champion Thomas Johansson of Sweden, seeded nine, rallied in the oppressive conditions to beat hard-hitting Croat Ivan Ljubicic 4-6 6-4 7-6 (8-6).
Number 15 seed David Nalbandian of Argentina, beaten by Hewitt in last month's Wimbledon final, eased past French qualifier Cyril Saulnier 6-4 6-3.
