Lleyton Hewitt is gearing up for a huge match against Andy Roddick at Queens. The Australian believes that his performance in the match can determine whether he is still good enough to be able to compete at the top level and make a serious impact at Wimbledon.

The former champion of the biggest tournament in tennis has seen the consistency of his performances and his world ranking slip in recent times to a level that does not justify what a servant to the game he has been.

Hewitt has been a big figure at the Queens Club in recent years and treats the tournament there as a fitting warm up for a huge grand slam. He will be hoping to counter all of the power that Roddick displays in order to prove that he can still perform against the best players in the game.

Hewitt said: “It’s a good test a week or so before a big major like Wimbledon. Roddick is always going to be one of the favorites after (Rafael) Nadal and (Roger) Federer on grass at Wimbledon. He’s made a couple of finals there in the past and lost to Roger, so yeah, we both got good records here at Queen’s. Hopefully it’s a good match.”

“It’s just a good challenge against one of the best grass court players in the world. He’s obviously got a big weapon with his serve. He’s got a big forehand and he moves well for his size. Just playing grass court tennis against a guy like that is going to be a big step up from my first two matches here.”

A growing number of off court commitments have prevented Hewitt from fulfilling many of the ambitions that he would have liked to in his relatively long career. Great moments in life such as becoming a father have been put down as the reasons as to why he has not won many more grand slams.

These are normal personal moments that we all go through and no one blames Hewitt for taking the time out that he has. He wouldn’t change a thing and would not trade in any moment of joy he has experienced with his partner or children for any amount of grand slam titles.

However, anyone in the game will tell you that there is not a nicer person on the circuit and despite his origin and the role Austrralians are going to play in England this summer, many people will be cheering him on.

He may juyst want to prove to himself that he is still physically and mentally up to competing against someone who has been described as the most powerful player to have ever picked up a tennis racket. Roddick may just over power Hewitt but he can counter this with endless guts and enthusiasm.

It will be a fitting little occasion and the match is likely to explode with fantastic shots, volleys and serves and it should get the mouths watering before the big one starts at the end of June.