{"id":325720,"date":"2025-10-23T05:42:16","date_gmt":"2025-10-23T05:42:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/325720\/"},"modified":"2025-10-23T05:42:16","modified_gmt":"2025-10-23T05:42:16","slug":"who-lleyton-hewitt-named-as-the-toughest-opponent-of-his-tennis-career","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/325720\/","title":{"rendered":"Who Lleyton Hewitt named as the toughest opponent of his tennis career"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Lleyton Hewitt played against the very best in men\u2019s tennis during his illustrious career.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Australian legend made his debut on the ATP Tour<\/a> in 1998 and won his first Grand Slam shortly after.<\/p>\n

Hewitt won the US Open in 2001, defeating American legend Pete Sampras<\/a>, 7-6, 6-1, 6-1, in the final.<\/p>\n

\"Lleyton9 Sep 2001: Lleyton Hewitt of Australia poses for photographers at the trophy presentation after defeating Pete Sampras in the men’s final match of the US Open at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing, New York. Hewitt defeats Sampras 7-6 (4), 6-1, 6-1. DIGITAL IMAGE. Mandatory Credit: Ezra\u2026<\/p>\n

He then doubled his major tally at Wimbledon<\/a> a year later, overpowering Argentina\u2019s David Nalbandian on Centre Court.<\/p>\n

That was the last Grand Slam he won; however, as the likes of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic<\/a> began to dominate the sport.<\/p>\n

During his Hall of Fame induction press conference in 2022, Hewitt<\/a> named the toughest opponent of his tennis career.<\/p>\n

Lleyton Hewitt said beating Rafael Nadal at the French Open was the \u2018toughest challenge in tennis\u2019<\/p>\n

Accepting his place in the Tennis Hall of Fame, Hewitt was asked who he felt were the toughest opponents of his career.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think the toughest challenge in tennis is playing Rafa [Nadal]<\/a> at the French Open,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\"LleytonPhoto by Brian Fluharty\/Getty Images for International Tennis Hall of Fame<\/p>\n

\u201cI think that is the toughest challenge that I\u2019ve ever been part of or ever experienced.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hewitt played Nadal four times at Roland Garros<\/a>, losing on all four occasions, winning just one set.<\/p>\n\nMatch<\/strong><\/td>\nWinner<\/strong><\/td>\nLoser<\/strong><\/td>\nScore<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n2006 French Open \u2013 4R<\/td>\nRafael Nadal<\/td>\nLleyton Hewitt<\/td>\n6-2, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n2007 French Open \u2013 4R<\/td>\nRafael Nadal<\/td>\nLleyton Hewitt<\/td>\n6-3, 6-1, 7-6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n2009 French Open \u2013 3R<\/td>\nRafael Nadal<\/td>\nLleyton Hewitt<\/td>\n6-1, 6-3, 6-1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\n2010 French Open \u2013 3R<\/td>\nRafael Nadal<\/td>\nLleyton Hewitt<\/td>\n6-3, 6-4, 6-3<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Lleyton Hewitt vs Rafael Nadal at the French Open<\/p>\n

The Australian recognized that there were several other difficult challenges in tennis, but insisted that playing Nadal on clay was the toughest of them all.<\/p>\n

\u201cRoger Federer could nearly play the perfect match, I think, on most surfaces, especially grass or hard court,\u201d said Hewitt.<\/p>\n

Lleyton Hewitt and Roger Federer\u2019s H2H on grass\/hard<\/p>\n