UPDATE 11pm: Sam Groth has brought an early end to Lleyton Hewitt’s Brisbane International title defence, making light work of the former world No.1 with a stunning straight-sets victory on Tuesday night.
Groth tore through his Davis Cup teammate in just 58 minutes, winning 6-3 6-2 to move through to the second round of the season-opening tournament.
The match lived up to its billing as a contrast of styles, with Groth’s near-unstoppable serve too much to handle for Hewitt, who is usually an excellent counterpuncher from the baseline.
But not on this occasion.
Groth, the holder of the world record for the fastest serve recorded, dished up 14 aces compared to just one from Hewitt, who was bullied around the court in surprising fashion.
Three of those aces came in the first game of the match as the late-bloomer from Narrandera in country NSW took firm control early in the piece.
Serving for the first set, Groth survived two break points to draw first blood at Pat Rafter Arena.
He carried the momentum into the second, giving up just 15 points to Hewitt and requiring just one match point to wrap it up – although he did need a challenge to secure the victory.
Groth, ranked world No.85 to Hewitt’s No.84, will now face Poland’s Lukasz Kubot in the second round and will fancy his chances after announcing his arrival with a powerful performance.
It is a disappointing exit for Hewitt, 34, after his stunning win over Roger Federer in last year’s Brisbane International final.
Earlier, unheralded Brisbane product John Millman, who took on two-time grand slam champion Andy Murray in the same event three years ago, booked a second-round clash with Roger Federer.
It’s a huge reward for the 25-year-old, who has battled back from a serious shoulder injury, which he feared could have ended his career.
Millman says the lure of taking on Federer possibly added a little extra motivation on his way to a 6-3 6-1 win over American qualifier Rhyne Williams.
“Federer, I mean, a lot of people throw it out there that he’s the greatest of all time, and he might well be,” the world No.153 said.
“As a person I don’t know him, but what he’s done for the game, only positive things get said about him. So there is all that.
“But when you step on the court and the first point gets struck, just like I had against Murray, you don’t play someone’s reputation.
“As soon as you start playing someone’s reputation, you’ve lost before you’ve even started.”
Finland’s Jarkko Nieminen, Ukrainian seventh seed Alexandr Dolgopolov and Kazakhstan’s Mikhail Kukushkin also picked up wins.
> Watch match highlights here (only available outside Australia):