Rusty Hewitt falls in the first round

13 April 2012

Wimbledon champion Lleyton Hewitt made a humbling exit from the £1.9million Canada Masters tournament in Toronto, losing 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 in the first round against 55th-ranked Felix Mantilla of Spain.

The 21-year-old Australian looked rusty as he began the hardcourt season and the build-up to his US Open title defence with a shock defeat.

"It's tough to come out and play your first match on hardcourt after three weeks off," said Hewitt.

"I wasn't expecting heaps coming in here but I would have liked to get a few more matches in and get a little more match-tough for the American hardcourt season. But he played extremely well, a lot better than I expected."

Tim Henman also returned to the court for the first time since Wimbledon, the British No1 easing through 6-4, 6-4 against Spain's Fernando Vicente.

However, Greg Rusedski was beaten in three sets by veteran American Todd Martin.

Top seed Hewitt broke Mantilla's serve to go 2-1 up and again to lead 5-2 before serving out the opening set. But Mantilla hit back to take a 5-4 lead in the second before heavy rain forced a two-hour delay.

When the players returned to the floodlit court Mantilla, who advanced beyond the second round only once in his previous 16 tournaments, claimed the decisive break to level the match.

In the third set, Hewitt held serve only once. "To be honest I really surprised myself," said Mantilla.

"Today was a very special win for me because I have been playing so bad the last months. Today I believe I recovered part of my game. Maybe it was the best win of my career."

Henman's victory made him the first player to register 40 wins this season. He now faces either American James Blake or Simon Larose, of Canada.

"It's a different phase," said Henman, assessing the hardcourt season. "After Wimbledon it was good to have a break and get recharged mentally and physically.

"For a few days after it is pretty depressing but you have to move on. I didn't do anything too demanding, I was just happy to rest and see family and friends."

Switzerland's Roger Federer, the 10th seed, lost to Argentina's Guillermo Canas 7-6, 7-5. The defeat extended a run of poor form for Federer, who has won only five matches since claiming his first Masters Series title in Hamburg in May.

Included in the string of disappointing displays were firstround exits at the French Open, Wimbledon, Rome and Halle. "It's not easy at the moment, I'm not on a high that's for sure," said Federer. "I had chances in the first set but it just shows I'm missing a little bit of confidence.

"I'm really struggling big time in the heat like this. I don't play very often in these conditions."

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