But at 26-years-old, and now a doting dad, is Lleyton Hewitt finally carving out a place in the public's heart where the likes of Andre Agassi, John McEnroe and compatriot Pat Rafter have been so eagerly welcomed?

"Maybe, sometimes," said Hewitt after winning over a traditionally sceptical Parisian crowd for his spectacular come-from-behind 4-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 victory against 2004 champion Gaston Gaudio at Roland Garros on Thursday.

"I felt like I had quite a lot of support out there today especially considering I was playing a guy who's won the title here a few years ago. I felt like the crowd were on my side.

"I think they liked that I was putting in and giving 100-percent. I wasn't going to lie down. The French crowds enjoy a tight match. I certainly gave them that."

Hewitt has made a habit of coming back from such seemingly hopeless situations.

He overturned a two-set deficit to beat Guillermo Canas here in 2001 and did it again at the Australian Open in January this year when he was facing defeat in the first round against Michael Russell.

He even performed a similar salvage operation against Roger Federer in the semifinals of the 2003 Davis Cup.

Nobody doubts his talent and heart. It's been the Australian's demeanour which has aggravated opponents with his 'Come on' scream proving particularly irksome.

But six years after capturing the US Open title and world number one spot as a 20-year-old, and five after his Wimbledon triumph, Hewitt's personal battlecry could be earning more fans than detractors.

Hewitt, married to Australian actress Bec Cartwright and the father of 18-month-old daughter Mia, refuses to accept he has mellowed as he slowly becomes one of the tour's senior citizens.

"I enjoy putting in the hard work and hopefully seeing it pay off," he said.

"I really enjoy that. I still think I can get better."

Hewitt faces Finland's Jarkko Nieminen, against whom he has never lost, in the third round here with a likely match-up against double defending champion Rafael Nadal in the round of 16 should he get through.

"I've had the better off Nieminen so far but he's a good player," said Hewitt.

"He's played well on hard court, grass, everything. It's going to be tough."