Just a few months before that clash, Hewitt made a first-round exit at Wimbledon while Federer went on to clinch his career’s first grass Slam title.
In a video posted by the Tennis Hall of Fame, Hewitt spoke about how tough winning that semifinal was since Roger Federer was in top form during that period.
For Hewitt, the win was memorable because he had to overcome a quality player like Federer and also survive the tough mental and physical challenges of the five-set matches.
With 42 wins in singles to his name, Hewitt is still Australia’s most successful Davis Cup player.
Lleyton Hewitt and Roger Federer’s fierce rivalry
Leyton Hewitt and Roger Federer often found themselves facing each other in the early 2000s. In all, they clashed 27 times with Federer dominating the head-to-head 18-9. The Aussie considers Federer one of the toughest opponents he has had to face in his career.
Both peaked during the early 2000s and were a force to be reckoned with. While Hewitt won seven of the first nine meetings between the pair, the power dynamic shifted post-2003 as Federer won the next 15 matches against the Australian. Crucially, Hewitt was never able to defeat Federer at a Grand Slam.
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