Burnished after weeks of practice under the Australian sun, Lleyton Hewitt showed neither mercy nor any sign of rust as he started the new year in style, dismantling Attila Savolt 6-2, 6-2 in the Hopman Cup on Sunday.
The win clinched the tournament's opening tie for Australia after Alicia Molik had earlier scraped past Hungary's Petra Mandula 4-6, 7-6, 6-2.
But more importantly it showed Hewitt's focus has not been blurred over a festive period during which he asked women's world number two Kim Clijsters to become his wife.
"Yeah, it's been good," he said when asked of the events of the last few weeks. "Mum was happy, it was good."
But lest anyone gets the idea the 22-year-old is going soft, the former world number one was quick to add: "Just training, mate, the same as always," when asked how he had spent the break since November's Davis Cup final.
That training was all too evident as Hewitt pummelled his opponent into submission in the ITF mixed team indoors event at the Burswood Dome.
Savolt, whose Hungarian team squeezed through the qualifiers with victory over Canada on Saturday, never stood a chance.
NO TIPS
"Yeah, I played well, very well," Hewitt smiled. "I was really able to work him around and it is nice to come away with a win.
"I have been training really hard since the Davis Cup... I have barely had a day off since then.
"I was pretty aggressive out there today, that's something I have been working on and it was great to be able to come out here and get that win.
"I am just looking forward to a lot more matches now."
Hewitt then teamed up with Molik to crush the Hungarians 7-6, 6-1 and complete a 3-0 opening day whitewash.
Next up for the host nation is Belgium on Wednesday, a match that will pit Hewitt against fiancee Clijsters in the mixed doubles.
Hewitt had no tips for Molik about how to beat his betrothed in their singles clash. "I don't know mate, she beats me too," he laughed when asked if he knew of any chinks in the Belgian's armour.
