Hewitt sets sights on home success

With a Grand Slam title under his belt, U.S. Open champion Lleyton Hewitt is switching his sights to success at home -- and the Australian baseliner is focusing first on this month's season-ending Masters Cup in Sydney.

Together with Pat Rafter, Hewitt spearheads the home challenge when the eight top players in the world converge on the Sydney SuperDome.

"It would be huge to be successful in Sydney," Hewitt said ahead of the $3.7-million jamboree. "I've always played well in Australia...the crowds get behind me in Australia and it really is a great feeling there.

"I've always played well in Sydney. I think even when we were playing at White City I had some great matches there when I was only 16 and 17 first on the tour. I tried to take that confidence from White City over to Homebush and now I'll try and take it from Homebush just across the road to the SuperDome."

"I've had some of my biggest matches in Australia, especially in the Davis Cup ties. I feel confident playing in Australia and it really would be a huge way to finish if I could do really well in the Masters Cup and then win the Davis Cup. It would top off a great year, that's for sure."

Australia play France in the Davis Cup final in Melbourne from November 30 to December 2.

The 20-year-old Hewitt currently lies second in the Champions Race and can overtake Brazilian Gustavo Kuerten to finish the year ranked number one.

"I feel great, the way that I have been playing over the last two months it's been fantastic.

TOP RANKING

"The results that I've had and to win my first Grand Slam as well and to put me in contention for number one is a great feeling.

"I haven't had the top ranking in mind the whole year really, I've been going out there and sure I've been trying to qualify for the Masters because I knew it was in Sydney as well, in my home country, so that was an added bonus for me.

"I've blocked it out up to now. Before the U.S. Open I really didn't give myself any chance of becoming world number one.

"The last couple of months I've played extremely well, I've won a Grand Slam, I've won another tournament, I've made another semi of a Masters Series and I've put myself in contention.

"I feel like I'm hitting the ball well enough to go out there and have a good result in Sydney in the Masters Cup.

"I just want to basically get out there and play one match at a time and try to get through my round robin matches."

TOUGH FIELD

But Hewitt knows he will be up against it in Sydney. Already qualified for the November 12 to 18 year-ender are Kuerten, Hewitt, Andre Agassi, Juan Carlos Ferrero, Rafter, Yevgeny Kafelnikov and Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic.

"It's going to be a really tough field. It all depends how the draw pans out as well, who gets put in what groups with you," Hewitt said.

"There's going to be no easy matches there, that's for sure.

"These are Grand Slam winners playing each other in the first few matches. It's a unique concept and it's a unique tournament. For the fans, you see unbelievable matches every day, every match.

"You're basically seeing Grand Slam semis and finals every match and I think that's good for the fans to have that excitement."

Hewitt is certainly hoping that the Australian fans will be an asset both in Sydney and Melbourne.

"They can get very loud... but they are fair as well. It makes for a really good atmosphere for a lot of matches."