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 The hard-bitten 34-year-old, making a record 20th and final
appearance at his home grand slam, soaked up the atmosphere under
the Rod Laver Arena lights and celebrated wildly after sealing the
win in two hours and 23 minutes.
"It was a tough situation absolutely to try and block out everything
else that's been going on," the two-times grand slam champion, who
last year announced he would end his career after the Melbourne
tournament, said in a courtside interview.
"It's not like the final round of a football season.
"I think I blocked it out pretty well."
The match was awkward for Hewitt, who had been giving grand slam
tips to his 129th-ranked opponent the day before the draw was
released.
With his wife and children watching from the player's box and a
roll-call of local celebrities in the crowd, Hewitt began
tentatively but gradually loosened up to dictate play against the
big-serving Duckworth.
He roared his first trademark "come on!" after scrambling to lace a
passing shot at 3-2 in the opening set and from there his game
flowed freely.
Famous for grinding through five-set marathons, Hewitt wobbled in
the third set to fall behind 4-2 but notched four straight games to
seal the win, sparking thunderous cheers from the terraces.
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He flopped on court and roared into the night sky, having set up a
second round match with eighth seed David Ferrer, another baseline
hustler.
"Ferrer's a totally different customer. I have so much respect for
his game and the way he goes about it," said former world number one
Hewitt, appearing at his 66th grand slam.
"It's going to be a real battle."
Another center court appearance is certain for Hewitt, who has
shouldered the burden of expectations from home crowds for nearly
two decades.
"This is what I'm going to miss the most, the buzz from the crowd,"
he said.
(Editing by Martyn Herman)
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