The former world number one captured four ATP titles in 2004 and was a finalist at the U.S. Open but it was still a year he would probably rather forget.

His plans of marrying his Belgian sweetheart Kim Clijsters [Images] ended in tears when she called off the wedding and his ambition of regaining the number one ranking was shattered by Roger Federer [Images] who beat him six consecutive times to emerge as the new top dog.

But Hewitt, who has always thrived on adversity, has already rebounded from his disappointments and is talking up his prospects this year.

He has mended his broken heart and begun dating an Australian actress and has even been bulking up in a bid to match the heavier players on tour. He was once one of the skinniest players on the professional circuit but is now rippling with muscle and extra power.

"It's been something Roger (coach Roger Rasheed) and I have really built up, I think, the last 18 months or so," Hewitt told reporters at this week's Sydney International.

"But it's probably showed more the last six months or so."

HUMILIATING LOSS

Hewitt was on top of the world just a few seasons ago. He upset Pete Sampras to won the 2001 U.S. Open final and became the youngest man in history to finish the year ranked number one in the world.

A year later, Hewitt won Wimbledon and once again topped the rankings, proving his success the previous year was no fluke, before things suddenly went downhill.

He failed to make it past the quarter-finals of any grand slam in 2003 and suffered the humiliation of losing in the first round of his Wimbledon defence. He finished the year ranked 17th.

Last year started slowly as well. He won in Sydney but was knocked out in the fourth round at the Australian Open then the quarter-finals at the French Open and Wimbledon.

But he began to show signs that things were turning round when the American hardcourt season began. He won titles at Washington and Long Island then made the final of the U.S. Open where he was thrashed 6-0 7-6 6-0 by Federer.

Hewitt has always fought above his weight, relying on courage and determination, and a brash attitude that has not endeared him to tennis fans.

He once upset the crowd in his home town of Adelaide when he called them stupid for applauding his opponent. Another time, he called an umpire in Paris a "spastic" over a line call and he was involved in a dispute with a black umpire in New York.

PRESSURE GROWS

He also has a love-hate relationship with the media and refuses to talk to several Australian reporters assigned to cover him. The newspapers hit back, labelling him a "national disgrace" and the country's most disliked sportsman.

Just last week, Hewitt launched an astonishing attack on organisers of the Australian Open, demanding that they make the court surface faster to increase his chances of winning the tournament.

His latest outburst was perhaps a further sign that he is getting back to his old self, which could mean trouble for his opponents at the Australian Open starting on Monday.

The 23-year-old Hewitt is fiercely patriotic and wants to win his own national title more than any other event. He has not made it past the fourth round in Melbourne in eight previous attempts and the pressure on him to win is starting to mount.

The last local to win the Australian Open was Mark Edmondson in 1976 and the retirement of Pat Rafter and the withdrawal of Mark Philippoussis has once again left Hewitt carrying the load but that does not worry him.

"I think I've played enough big matches in Australia that the pressure of playing in Australia doesn't bother me," he said.

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