Melbourne is too slow……_奥运英语

　melbourne is too slow for hewitt

　lleyton hewitt believes the surface at the australian open's melbourne park is hindering the country's chances of producing a local champion.

　no australian man has won the open since mark edmonson beat fellow countryman john newcombe in 1976, while the last local player to reach the final was pat cash in 1988.

　hewitt has won the us open and wimbledon championships but never made it past the fourth round in australia in eight attempts.

　he believes the surface is too slow for australian players and wants tournament officials to speed it up to help their chances of winning.

　“at the end of the day, it's their tournament； it's the australian open's business how they want the court,” said hewitt.

　“but i know the us open would definitely be going up to andy roddick and pete sampras and andre agassi and asking them what kind of surface they want and how quick they want it.”

　hewitt said the hardcourt surface had gradually become slower over the past four years but australian open tournament director paul mcnamee refuted this.

　“since 2001 it's been the same or quicker,” mcnamee said. “it's a very good surface and we're quite comfortable with it.”

　despite his lack of success in melbourne, hewitt is confident of a strong showing at next month's first grand slam of the year.