“I knew it was going to be tough, I’ve the lost the last couple of times to Gael, he is a tremendous athlete and has a really big serve. The second-set tie-break was huge, we both had opportunities and I was able to pull through. It could have gone either way in the third.”  Hewitt said

“I’ve prepared so much and I feel so well, I’ve spent the last four weeks – seeing I lost early at the French – hitting on hardcourt, synthetic grass, prior to coming on to the grass in Birmingham, Eastbourne. So my preparation could not have been better, so I was just ready, busting to get out there and finally play an actual match.” Alicia Molik

Lleyton Hewitt, Peter Luczak and Jarmila Groth also safely progressed into the second round at Wimbledon.

“I followed it on the TV and saw the devastation, On Saturday morning I thought we should do something, I called up Tennis Australia chief Craig Tiley and said ‘is it possible?’ “He said probably not. “I called up a few players just in case and they were like, ‘we should do it straight away.’ In 24 hours we were able to pull this thing off.” Roger Federer

Andy Roddick came through a marathon encounter with Lleyton Hewitt!

“There are a lot of positives to take out of it like the guys I have beaten, especially Del Potro, the way I went out there and took it to him and played great tennis over three sets against a worthy opponent, Andy is one of the best grass-court players out there and has been to a couple of  Wimbledon finals. It is not a bad loss but I would have liked to have snuck through. We were both giving everything we had out there and I don’t think either of us left anything in the locker-room.”  Hewitt said.

“I am super-relieved just coming off court, I have not been in the Grand Slam picture much the last couple of years but am now in my second of the year so far so I am really happy. There is a lot of respect between me and Lleyton. We used to get into it a bit when we were younger but we earned each other’s respect and now we are just a couple of ordinary dudes. We have maybe grown up a little bit. I am ready to go and excited. There is no time to be tired. I felt fine out there physically although I am sure I will wake up a little bit sore tomorrow but that is only to be expected. It wasn’t short on drama and it was tough from a mental standpoint. There were lots of ebbs and flows and I am happy to be on the good side of it. The fifth set was a dogfight and I came up with probably the best half-volley I have hit in my life to save a break point. There is a mixture of happiness and relief in your mind at the end of a match like that. You are trying to stay the course for four hours constantly figuring out what going to do with your mind constantly racing.” Roddick said.