Hewitt Scan Confirms Strain

The Age

Thursday May 25, 2006

By LINDA PEARCE

GROWING doubt surrounds Lleyton Hewitt's availability for next week's French Open, with an MRI scan confirming the world No. 14 had "a severe over-expansion" of the outer ligament of the right ankle from his first-round loss in the ATP tournament in Poertschach, Austria, on Monday.

The injury is notoriously painful, and yesterday's diagnosis, by a private hospital in Villach, adds to the uncertainty over Hewitt's fitness ahead of tomorrow's draw at Roland Garros. The former No. 1 has played one match on clay in two years, and has made no secret of the fact his major focus this European summer is Wimbledon, where he won the title in 2002. Hewitt missed last year's French Open with a rib injury.

World No. 5 Andy Roddick could also miss the French Open after being forced to retire with injury against Chile's Nicolas Massu at the World Team Cup in Germany. The American, who has had shoulder problems, landed heavily on his left foot at 2-2 in the first set. He received treatment from an ATP trainer and continued after having his ankle and foot heavily bandaged. He retired at 2-4.

There will be no repeat of Chris Guccione's French Open exploits this year. The sole Australian to win a singles match at the 2005 tournament has failed to advance past the first round of qualifying, beaten 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 by Colombian baseliner Alejandro Falla.

Only Wayne Arthurs and Peter Luczak remain in contention to join Nathan Healey and - injury permitting - Hewitt in the men's main draw when the year's second grand slam tournament starts on Sunday. Sam Stosur and Alicia Molik, the latter a first-round loser at the Istanbul Cup yesterday, are Australia's only guaranteed women's representatives.

Luczak, the Australian No. 2 and 23rd seed for French qualifying, defeated wildcard Gary Lugassy 6-2, 6-3 for the right to meet another Frenchman, Australian Open junior champion Alexandre Sidorenko, in the second round.

Arthurs progressed through a marathon 2-6, 7-6 (7-3), 10-8 defeat of Arvind Parmar and was due to meet John Van Lottum of the Netherlands overnight, Melbourne time, but Canberra's Alun Jones was eliminated in three sets by 16th-seeded Spaniard Oscar Hernandez.

Of the Australian women involved in qualifying last night, 21st seed Nicole Pratt defeated France's Julie Coin 6-2, 6-2 and Sophie Ferguson lost 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 to second seed Eva Birnerova of the Czech Republic. Casey Dellacqua was to face Yulia Beygelzimer of the Ukraine.

All three competed in the Tennis Australia wildcard playoff won in Paris last weekend by Molik, who accounted for Dellacqua and Ferguson to earn her grand slam return.

Molik is yet to win a tournament match in three attempts since returning to the circuit after an illness break of more than six months. A wildcard entry in Istanbul, she lost 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 to Austrian qualifier Tamira Paszek.

"Alicia showed that she's definitely progressed with her comeback, and to win two close matches is a real positive," Fed Cup captain David Taylor said after the wildcard playoff.

"However, it will be a long road back for her to be competitive at the highest level."

© 2006 The Age

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