The Man Rising from Down Under Sets the Wimbledon Sun for Del P

Let a theory be drawn known as the "true test of character" and let Lleyton Hewitt be allowed to prove it; he will prove it more than just satisfactorily, giving the theory a unique flavour at the same time.

A flavour which will contain ambition, copious amounts of inspiration and drive; a drive borne out of frustration and sheer hard luck, determination to stand tall in the face of fire and a grit showing resurgence when it matters the most.

And Juan Martin Del Potro, the current World No. 5 had to find all about this in the first person, rather than hear a recounted version about a bygone era saga in the tabloids. His upset definitely won't bode well with his fans, but for Hewitt's fans, it means just one thing: Their hero has started displaying some of his "apparently lost" scintillating traits.

The way he played today, he could have rivaled Federer and maybe could have even pushed him into a fourth set, if not a fifth. He ruled in the centre court, just ruled—there is no doubting that, was in his element playing one of the best matches of this year's season so far.

If this would have been the finals, Hewitt would have wrangled another slam for himself, but sadly it's just a pyrrhic victory for the time being.

Dominating Del Potro from the word go, Hewitt thwarted each and every assault his opponent seemed to be flinging on his way; he was in the zone, all pumped up and charged, his confidence waxing with every point that he grabbed from the Argentinian.

Del Potro came agonisingly close to breaking Hewitt's serve in the fifth game of the first set, but Hewitt wasn't in the mood for some Australian laid back revelry. He was the hunter, gauging and stalking his prey waiting for it to make a slight mistake; and mistake Del Potro committed in the sixth game when he was completely outwitted by Hewitt's strong grass court experiences and keen perceiving of nuances.

With a break at hand, Hewitt firmly consolidated his next service game before finally winning the set on his serve in the ninth game. The Australian supporters, started feeling the confidence boost as well and their cries echoed and resounded...gaining momentum as Hewitt settled himself in an all familiar ambivalence.

Del P began strongly in the second set and for most of the games, each player began holding to love on each's serve, but when it looked Hewitt might just give it up, he fined tuned his play, made Del Potro pay for a lapse of concentration for perhaps the umpteenth time in the match by breaking him in the 11th game of the set.

And with a precision that has been absent from his side for quite a long time now, he wrapped up the second set, while the "bemused" youngster was just left gaping and pondering where did he go wrong.

Del Potro found himself trailing two-sets-to-love and very soon 1-3 in the third set; and just as it appeared that Hewitt will proceed to the next round facing a least bit of resistance, than Del P woke up.

Defiantly, he slipped into the "World No. 5" mode looking as though he wasn't done—at least not without a fight; the players waged a literal war with their racquets for 58 minutes in the third set, each playing not only physically but also mentally.

And just as things looked as though they were going to turn a bit haywire, Hewitt slipped once again into the World No. 1 zone, as though teaching Del Potro a lesson on "who-is-the-best-grass-courter-among-the-two."

Del Potro had no answer to this confidence bolstered cockiness of Hewitt and in spite of all his spurt of defiance and challenging meekly submitted himself to the aussie's experienced superiority on the surface after a protracted two hour and 24 minute battle of physical and mental endurance.

As regards Hewitt, his victory must have inspired scores of tennis fans across the world; brushed aside all doubts on whether he would be able to get back to some respectable position, if not at the very top; solicited the faith and hope placed on him that he will be back....sooner or later.

For Lleyton Hewitt never gives up...giving up is just not the way this resilient Australian tackles his problems even though he sometimes struggles a lot more as compared to his peers.

And while this was just a second round match, Hewitt's one-sided overhauling of his opponent will and should definitely make the others take a startle or two; Lleyton Hewitt seems to have fixed a major fix in his professional jigsaw puzzle.