What to Watch on Tuesday at the Australian Open

Australia’s Lleyton Hewitt waves during Kids Tennis Day at Melbourne Park, Australia, January 16, 2016.

A centre court opener was always a certainty for Lleyton Hewitt at his Australian Open swansong but being drawn against a compatriot he has spent years mentoring was an “awkward” surprise, the twice grand slam champion said.

And the prospect of some prime time exposure for the world No.134?

Duckworth hit back in the third set, moving 4-2 ahead, before Hewitt reeled off four consecutive games to send the crowd into raptures at Rod Laver Arena.

“To tell you the truth, I don’t know how it feels”. “I’ve prided myself my whole career on preparing as well as possible and doing all the one-percenters to try and get the best result possible”. “That’s going to be the tough part to deal with”.

“Two Australians are playing”. The man has made the most remarkable transition, for in his younger days he was reviled as a punk and a bogan (another great local term that translates to something like “chav”).

“Very tough first round”. It’s a bit unusual, but I think James is also looking at this, if he can win this match, he knocks off Lleyton in his last match in his career, it’s also a big opportunity for him.

“It would’ve been nice to beat Federer at Wimbledon, but taking a set off him, I was the only guy to do so before the final”.

Temperatures are forecast to be slightly lower than a sweltering day one, when the mercury rose to 35º Celsius.

Temperatures in the high 30s have been forecast for Tuesday, when Tomic and veteran Lleyton’ Hewitt are among the local drawcards, and Monday, when respective top seeds Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams are scheduled for the afternoon session on Rod Laver Arena. I think I saw a little bit of her play a year ago.

He has started 2016 by leading Australia to victory in the Hopman Cup, winning all four of his singles matches, including a victory over Andy Murray.

Now it could all end at the hands of the man Hewitt refers to as Ducks (this is Australia, remember, a country where syllables are so closely hoarded that you leave the bins out for the “garbos” and wear a “cossie” to the swimming pool).

“Hewitt has no doubt carved out a solid if not spectacular career, winning two majors and becoming world number one at the tender age of 20 after winning the Tennis Masters Cup [now called the ATP World Tour Finals] in 2001”, said Van Nguyen. “Especially now that I’ve got a second hat on, a full-time job as Davis Cup captain”, Hewitt said.

“I’ve played many times here in the third round, fourth round”.

It did not get any better for Van Uytvanck, as Azarenka swatted her aside to set up a second-round match against Danka Kovinic of Montenegro.