Lleyton Hewitt showed enough to suggest he can return to the top 20 in 2011, say Wally Masur and Josh Eagle
Eagle, who is part of Hewitt’s coaching team, was thrilled with the Australian's performance in a match he felt befitted a grand slam semi-final.
"I thought it was an unbelievable match," Eagle said on Fox Sports.
"Yes, Lleyton had his chances - but I was sitting there thinking 'this is the best match I have seen in a long, long time' and it was worthy of a grand slam semi-final.
"It was world class and Lleyton Hewitt, don't write him off, he's going to be around for a while I tell you.
"If he can play like that for the rest of the year then no doubt he will finish it in the top 20."
Hewitt missed four months in 2010 after hip surgery, and Masur feels match practice is the key to Hewitt returning to the top tier.
"For him it's about matches, the consistency of training. That's when we will see the best of Lleyton Hewitt.
"He's only 29 years of age and whilst he has put his body under a lot of pressure, there is no reason he won't be playing until 32 or 33."
"He was lethal on the big points because he truly believed.
"Lleyton has a lot more skill than you actually see on the tennis court because he tends to play within himself."
While Masur believes it is unfair to compare the Hewitt of 2011 to the dizzying heights he reached when he was younger, he saw enough signs to predict he will return to the top 20.
"If he can maintain the rage that he has shown over this Australian summer and the enthusiasm for practice when he gets to the events outside the grand slams, then I definitely think he can end the year in the top 20."
Alicia Molik’s coach, Nicole Pratt, added: "Watching Lleyton Hewitt at the Hopman Cup I saw him in the best form I have seen from him for a long, long time.
"He is the type of guy who, as long as he feels like he is still improving, that he is OK physically, then he believes he can beat these guys.
"He showed it against Nalbandian. He's definitely not done."
However Australian doubles legend Mark Woodforde felt that Hewitt’s tentative approach – which included faltering on two match points against Nalbandian – was a sign that Hewitt’s killer instinct may be gone.
Eagle said that Hewitt will now head to America to continue his comeback.