Entering Wimbledon for the first time as the top seed—and as a Grand Slam champion—Simona Halep managed to get in some prep work with a former champion.

A backhand-blasting exchange between Lleyton Hewitt and Halep offers a glimpse of how two of the most intense players in history go about honing their craft.

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Halep and Hewitt have a common bond in Darren Cahill, who coached his fellow Aussie for a spell and has guided Halep to the top of the game.

Halep has reached the quarterfinals or better at Wimbledon three of the past four years, but hasn’t won a grass-court title since her first and only one in Rosmalen back in 2013. After dropping the Australian Open final to Caroline Wozniacki, she bounced back at the French Open to win her first Grand Slam over Sloane Stephens in the final.

Hewitt will be going for a title, too, this fortnight at the All England Club. Retired from singles but in the midst of a full-on doubles comeback, the former world No. 1 knows a thing or two about succeeding on grass. Aside from his Wimbledon title in 2002, Hewitt won seven other titles on the surface, including four of them at Queen’s Club.

Succeeding from the back of the court on the slick lawns against some of the most powerful players on tour is something Halep will be looking to accomplish starting next week. Getting in a workout with someone like Hewitt, who had to do the same across his career, should help her prospects.

Follow Van on Twitter: @Van_Sias

WATCH: Halep hits 
with Hewitt at
Wimbledon

WATCH: Halep hits with Hewitt at Wimbledon

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A LANDMARK DOCUMENTARY DURING THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS EVENT IN SPORTS, CELEBRATING THE UNPARALLELED FEDERER-RIVALRY AND 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE GREATEST MATCH EVER PLAYED.

In association with All England Lawn & Tennis Club, Rock Paper Scissors Entertainment and Amblin Television.  Directed by Andrew Douglas.