Lewis: 'Hard work can bring back glory days'

Adrian Lewis (Lawrence Lustig, PDC)

Adrian Lewis believes that his hard work will see him get back to his best as he bids to win a third William Hill World Championship title.

After being crowned king of Alexandra Palace in 2011 and 2012, Lewis has failed to find the level of consistency that saw him rule on the sport's biggest stage.

But the four-time World Cup winner has been putting in the hours on the practice board as he aims to return his glory days. 

"I'm still here fighting and the work I've been putting in is finally paying off," said the 34-year-old, who has enjoyed comeback wins against Cristo Reyes and Darren Webster.

"I've started slowly in the first two matches but when my back has been against the wall I've managed to flick the switch and everything has just clicked. 

"I've been working harder than ever and have practiced more for this tournament than I have in the past.

"I'm not yet playing to the very best of my ability but I'm only a couple of pieces of the jigsaw away from it.

"I've got the gears to go through. I'm not a two-time World Champion for nothing."

Lewis takes on two-time PDC Unicorn World Youth Champion Dimitri Van den Bergh in the last 16 but insists he is not phased by any opponent.

"My last game against Darren Webster was one of the best I've played on that stage - maybe not in terms of standard but it was very entertaining for the fans. 

"He played brilliantly for a while and if I can weather that storm I can beat anybody so I don't care who I play. 

"I'm happy, enjoying it and I feel like I'm on my way back to the top again."