Bjorkman set to threaten Hewitt
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Your support makes all the difference.Jonas Bjorkman's return to producing something like his best tennis may be a worry for his first-round opponent at Wimbledon, Lleyton Hewitt. Bjorkman claimed his first tour title in four years at the Samsung Open in Nottingham on Saturday.
Bjorkman beat the Australian Wayne Arthurs in three sets to regain the title he won in 1998 and complete his Wimbledon preparations in style. Hewitt, the Australian world No 1 and top seed at the All England Club, is already suffering from a stomach virus, will no doubt be feeling a bit more queasy after Bjorkman's 6-2, 6-7, 6-2 victory.
The 30-year-old lost his first set of the week in the second set tie-break, but did not lose his serve once all week. It was a remarkable reversal of fortunes – his last victory before this week had come in mid-March, and before coming to Nottingham he had lost his last seven matches.
Two breaks of the Arthurs' serve gave Bjorkman the first set comfortably, although the Pinner-based left-hander was unfortunate to be on the end of a debateable line call for the first break. The second set was much tighter and was eventually edged by Arthurs in the tie-break, his 20th ace levelling the match.
Bjorkman was not to be denied becoming the first man to win the title twice, however, and fittingly produced the shot of the match, a sublime running forehand winner squeezed down the line, to earn a break in the deciding set. Arthurs then saved three match points in the eighth game but another superb winner gave Bjorkman victory and sets up a mouth-watering meeting with Hewitt tomorrow.
"It's going to be really, really hard," Bjorkman said. "He returns well and makes less unforced errors. It's going to be a battle, but there is no pressure on me."
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