ROTTERDAM, Netherlands (Reuters) - Lleyton Hewitt was back among the world's top 10 Monday, 113 days after he left the elite group without a second glance.
To anyone who will listen, Hewitt repeats his mantra that "the No. 1 spot just doesn't matter."
But read between the lines and a different story emerges.
"I can beat anyone on any given day. I don't think my ranking (of 17) at the end of last year was a true reflection of my game as it obviously dropped because I didn't play a lot of tennis," said Hewitt, whose victory at World Indoor Tournament Sunday lifted him four spots to nine in the rankings.
"I would hope I was a lot better player than 14 or 15 in the world ... and I hope a win like this proves that.
"When you've won a major, your priorities change a little bit as you'll be remembered for winning majors more than anything else."
It is with this in mind that Hewitt also laid out his expectations for May's French Open, where his best result is one quarter-final in five visits.
"Obviously my two stand-outs are winning Wimbledon and the U.S. Open but I've beaten some pretty good players on clay, especially in Davis Cup and winning seven matches could be tough but I give myself an outside chance," he said.
"I believe I'm good enough to win grand slams."
The win in Rotterdam over Juan Carlos Ferrero handed Hewitt his 21st singles title, two days before he celebrates his 23rd birthday.
Hewitt started 2003 as the world No. 1 and with the Wimbledon title in his possession. By Nov. 3, he was neither a reigning grand slam champion nor a member of the top 10.
While Croatian giant Ivo Karlovic ripped the Wimbledon trophy out of his hands in the first round of last year's championships, Hewitt's exit from the top 10 was his own doing.
The Australian's decision to curtail his schedule after the U.S. Open meant he was unable to defend the points he had earned in 2002 by reaching the Paris Masters final and winning the Masters Cup.
"My goal last year was to win the Davis Cup for Australia. I did absolutely everything that I believed could help me achieve that and because of it my ranking took a hit," Hewitt said.
However, with champions Australia a first-round casualty in the premier men's team competition this year, Hewitt has already set his sights on another Davis Cup milestone.
When asked for his goal for 2004, he said sternly: "The Davis Cup qualifying match ... man that would be embarrassing if we dropped down ... there's more pressure on that than winning the final."
While there is no doubt about Hewitt's commitment to Australia's cause, his attitude to the Olympics is different.
Hewitt has already turned down the opportunity of representing Australia in Athens because it precedes the U.S. Open by a week.
"You look at all the other sporting events in the Olympics and this is do or die for them," he explains, but tennis "is a very individual sport" short on Olympic tradition.
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To anyone who will listen, Hewitt repeats his mantra that "the No. 1 spot just doesn't matter."
But read between the lines and a different story emerges.
"I can beat anyone on any given day. I don't think my ranking (of 17) at the end of last year was a true reflection of my game as it obviously dropped because I didn't play a lot of tennis," said Hewitt, whose victory at World Indoor Tournament Sunday lifted him four spots to nine in the rankings.
"I would hope I was a lot better player than 14 or 15 in the world ... and I hope a win like this proves that.
"When you've won a major, your priorities change a little bit as you'll be remembered for winning majors more than anything else."
It is with this in mind that Hewitt also laid out his expectations for May's French Open, where his best result is one quarter-final in five visits.
"Obviously my two stand-outs are winning Wimbledon and the U.S. Open but I've beaten some pretty good players on clay, especially in Davis Cup and winning seven matches could be tough but I give myself an outside chance," he said.
"I believe I'm good enough to win grand slams."
The win in Rotterdam over Juan Carlos Ferrero handed Hewitt his 21st singles title, two days before he celebrates his 23rd birthday.
Hewitt started 2003 as the world No. 1 and with the Wimbledon title in his possession. By Nov. 3, he was neither a reigning grand slam champion nor a member of the top 10.
While Croatian giant Ivo Karlovic ripped the Wimbledon trophy out of his hands in the first round of last year's championships, Hewitt's exit from the top 10 was his own doing.
The Australian's decision to curtail his schedule after the U.S. Open meant he was unable to defend the points he had earned in 2002 by reaching the Paris Masters final and winning the Masters Cup.
"My goal last year was to win the Davis Cup for Australia. I did absolutely everything that I believed could help me achieve that and because of it my ranking took a hit," Hewitt said.
However, with champions Australia a first-round casualty in the premier men's team competition this year, Hewitt has already set his sights on another Davis Cup milestone.
When asked for his goal for 2004, he said sternly: "The Davis Cup qualifying match ... man that would be embarrassing if we dropped down ... there's more pressure on that than winning the final."
While there is no doubt about Hewitt's commitment to Australia's cause, his attitude to the Olympics is different.
Hewitt has already turned down the opportunity of representing Australia in Athens because it precedes the U.S. Open by a week.
"You look at all the other sporting events in the Olympics and this is do or die for them," he explains, but tennis "is a very individual sport" short on Olympic tradition.
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