There are the obvious problems to begin with, which have nothing to do with how well (or how much better) Hewitt can play, namely Federer and Nadal. Out of the four slams, I'm giving Hewitt absolutely no chance at the French or Wimbledon. Unless Federer and Nadal both get injured, I cannot under any circumstances (even if they have a less than major injury and continue to play) see Hewitt beating Nadal or Federer at the French or Wimbledon. Nadal is the tit to Federer's tat at Wimbledon, and vice-versa for the French, so Hewitt will have to make his mark elsewhere.
As Hewitt and Rochey have loosely set Australia as the mark, and since Hewitt has threatened there once (even since Federer's rise) I concur. Nadal, despite what statistics many think may *hypotheically* give him a great chance in Australia, has not performed well at all there. He's been to the quarter's once, and I know that he's also only been to the quarters once at the US, but he took Youzny to four and actually had bit of a look in that match. Gonzalez demolished him in Australia this year. So in my hypothetical scenario, I'm going to say in Australia 2008 Hewitt is seeded to meet Nadal in the semis, and Nadal does not make it there, and Hewitt does.
I know Federer has performed very well in Australia, but he did have his one odd slam loss there. The only one on a non-clay surface in a very, very long time. So I'll say Federer is on the opposite side of the draw from Hewitt and they meet in the final. Federer pulled something in the 3rd round and has dropped a couple sets on his way to the final due to this slight injury.
Hewitt meanwhile, under the tutelage of the great Rochey, has beefed up his serve by an impressive 7-10 mph, has regained the half-step that many felt he'd loss over the past 5 years, and has moved from an ultra-defensive game to a moderately-aggressive one. Also, Rochey, having an insight into Federer's mystique, has clued Hewitt in on Fed's weakness. I, of course, cannot say what it is for fear of being taken down, but sufficed to say, it's there and Hewitt knows about it.
Hewitt junkballs his way to a 5th set. Federer has called for the trainer twice and looks to be half a step slow and is on the receiving in of Hewitt 2.0's best match ever. The home crowd is predictably fueling Hewitt's play and Federer loses 12-10 in the 5th. Hewitt holds up his 3rd and last Grand Slam title. He damages his rotator cuff the next week and is off of the tour by year's end.
Phew...it could happen, but it ain't likely.
As Hewitt and Rochey have loosely set Australia as the mark, and since Hewitt has threatened there once (even since Federer's rise) I concur. Nadal, despite what statistics many think may *hypotheically* give him a great chance in Australia, has not performed well at all there. He's been to the quarter's once, and I know that he's also only been to the quarters once at the US, but he took Youzny to four and actually had bit of a look in that match. Gonzalez demolished him in Australia this year. So in my hypothetical scenario, I'm going to say in Australia 2008 Hewitt is seeded to meet Nadal in the semis, and Nadal does not make it there, and Hewitt does.
I know Federer has performed very well in Australia, but he did have his one odd slam loss there. The only one on a non-clay surface in a very, very long time. So I'll say Federer is on the opposite side of the draw from Hewitt and they meet in the final. Federer pulled something in the 3rd round and has dropped a couple sets on his way to the final due to this slight injury.
Hewitt meanwhile, under the tutelage of the great Rochey, has beefed up his serve by an impressive 7-10 mph, has regained the half-step that many felt he'd loss over the past 5 years, and has moved from an ultra-defensive game to a moderately-aggressive one. Also, Rochey, having an insight into Federer's mystique, has clued Hewitt in on Fed's weakness. I, of course, cannot say what it is for fear of being taken down, but sufficed to say, it's there and Hewitt knows about it.
Hewitt junkballs his way to a 5th set. Federer has called for the trainer twice and looks to be half a step slow and is on the receiving in of Hewitt 2.0's best match ever. The home crowd is predictably fueling Hewitt's play and Federer loses 12-10 in the 5th. Hewitt holds up his 3rd and last Grand Slam title. He damages his rotator cuff the next week and is off of the tour by year's end.
Phew...it could happen, but it ain't likely.