Healthy Hewitt confident about US Open chances

Former World No 1 Lleyton Hewitt made a triumphant return to hardcourts on Monday, exciting the Australian veteran about his US Open chances after missing it last year because of left hip surgery.

Hewitt dispatched US wild card Donald Young 7-5, 6-2 in a first-round match at the 1.4 million-dollar ATP Washington Classic, his first match since taking Andy Roddick to five sets last month in a quarter-final on Wimbledon grass.

"For the rest of the year that's going to give me a lot of confidence," said Hewitt. "I was close to getting to the semis at Wimbledon. I was probably only a point from beating Roddick.

"Hopefully for the US Open that will give me a lot of confidence for five sets on the hardcourts."

Top seed Roddick was among 16 players with first-round byes. Fifth-ranked Roddick - who won at Washington in 2001, 2005 and 2007 - will play his first match since losing the Wimbledon final to Roger Federer here on Wednesday.

Taiwan's Lu Yen-Hsun rallied to eliminate US wild card Michael Russell 4-6, 6-1, 7-5 and booked a second-round date Tuesday with defending champion and second seed Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina.

Hewitt, ranked 42nd, booked a second-round match-up on Wednesday against Israeli Dudi Sela. Hewitt beat 34th-ranked Sela in the first round at Miami in March when he was still fighting to find top form after last August's surgery.

"The first three or four months this year I was still struggling," Hewitt said. "It took a lot of physical and mental strength to come back from that injury."

Hewitt won his 27th career title, and first crown in more than two years, a month later, capturing the US Clay Court Championship. While he still has therapy, Hewitt said the hip feels fine now.

Hewitt connected on only 38 per cent of his first serves but won 22-of-27 points when he did and saved 8-of-11 break points against him.

"I just didn't serve my best. It's always a little hard the first match back after a few weeks off," Hewitt said. "Balls bounce a lot higher than they did off the grass. It was nice to get through in straight sets."

Hewitt won the Washington title in 2004 and reached the US Open final that year, losing to Roger Federer.

"That year I had a lot more hardcourt matches coming into this tournament," he said. "I had a great run. I was very confident at the time."

With his confidence returning and no points to lose the remainder of the year, Hewitt is counting upon a solid showing to boost him back among the ranking leaders.

"It's important for me now to make a good stand the next few weeks," he said.