Lleyton
Hewitt

A STERLING CAREER FOR A DEDICATED CRAFTSMAN

He captured two major singles championships over the course of a storied career, finished back to back years at No. 1 in the world, spearheaded Australia to Davis Cup triumphs twice and celebrated may of his finest seasons in the early stages of the 21st Century with deep intensity, unrelenting drive, and a purposefulness that few players have equaled or surpassed. He emerged powerfully from the land “Down Under”, wearing the Australian robe pridefully, respecting his heritage tremendously, delighting in the fact that he was following in the tradition of so many prodigious players from his nation including Laver and Rosewall, Newcombe and Roche, Stolle and Emerson, and his contemporary Patrick Rafter.

A GLADIATOR ON A TENNIS COURT

Above all else, Lleyton Hewitt was a gladiator on a tennis court, a ruthless competitor who refused to give up no matter how daunting the circumstances, a remarkable fighter with concrete goals and large dreams, and a towering professional through and through.

SHIFTING TO TENNIS FROM ANOTHER SPORT

And yet, Hewitt could have ended up excelling in another sport. As a kid growing up in Adelaide and moving to Sydney, Hewitt played Australian Rules Football until he was 13. Who could knows what might have been in store for Hewitt had he remained dedicated to that sport?

Instead, he turned with a fervor to the game of tennis and swiftly established himself as the best junior player in his country. Hewitt improved by leaps and bounds in a very short span. Perhaps competing in another sport requiring extraordinary athleticism benefitted Hewitt as he climbed the tennis ladder, put his nose to the grindstone and moved onwards and upwards.

BREAKING THROUGH EARLY

In 1997, one month prior to celebrating his 16th birthday, Hewitt became the youngest male player ever to qualify for the Australian Open. That was no mean feat. But it was only the start of something substantial for this unwaveringly ambitious individual.

Hewitt was off and running, never to look back. In 1998, he secured the Adelaide title on the ATP Tour two months shy of turning 17, succeeding as the youngest winner of a tour event since Michael Chang in 1988 and simultaneously becoming the lowest ranked player (at No. 550) in ATP history to take a title. In the semifinals of that Adelaide event, Hewitt upended none other than Andre Agassi.

Hewitt was stationed at No. 113 in the world when 1998 came to an end, but as the curtain closed on 1999 he had surged to No. 22 after winning 44 of 64 matches that season. But the highlight of that season for Hewitt was playing a leading role in his debut year along with Rafter in leading Australia to a Davis Cup triumph as they ousted France in the final. Hewitt’s match playing maturity was strikingly on display, as was his fearlessness in the trenches, not to mention his immense poise under pressure.

WINNING HIS FIRST MAJOR IN DOUBLES

It was in 2000 that Hewitt took his first Grand Slam tournament crown, competing superbly alongside Max Mirnyi to win the US Open. In that same tournament, Hewitt reached his first major semifinal in singles, losing a hard fought, straight set skirmish against Pete Sampras on Arthur Ashe Stadium. For the first time in that 2000 season, Hewitt finished a year among the top ten players in the world, landing at No. 7. Moreover, he established himself as the top ranked Australian player that year.

Now, clearly approaching the very peak of his powers, Hewitt celebrated a banner season in 2001. He concluded the year at No. 1 in the world, the first Australian to realize that feat since the official ATP Rankings were introduced back in 1973. He also became the youngest to finish a season with the No. 1 ranking at 20 years and eight months old. He collected six titles including the prestigious ATP Finals during that stellar campaign and won 80 of 98 matches, but the highlight was clearly his US Open title run in New York.

VICTORIOUS ON HIS OWN AT THE US OPEN

After overcoming a tenacious Andy Roddick in a tumultuous five set quarterfinal and eliminating two-time major singles victor Yevgeny Kafelnikov in the penultimate round, Hewitt saved his best for last, defeating Sampras 7-6 (4), 6-1, 6-1 for his first major title in singles. 

Hewitt was overjoyed and immensely gratified to break through so spectacularly against one of the greatest players of all time and joining such an elite club. He said, “It is an unbelievable feeling, something words can’t describe. You dream of winning a Grand Slam tournament when you’re a young boy. For me to come through at such a young age and win the US Open is fantastic.”

THE ULTIMATE COMPLIMENT FROM PETE SAMPRAS

In claiming that crown, Hewitt showcased his multitude of attributes including uncanny ball control, wonderful tactical acuity, an underrated first serve and a return of serve which was absolutely outstanding. As Sampras said of Hewitt, “He returned and passed as well as anyone I think I’ve ever played. He’s got the best return in the game, the best wheels in the game. He possesses a much better first serve [than before]. He’s a great player.”

WINNING WIMBLEDON HIS WAY

That greatness was demonstrable once more at Wimbledon the following year as Hewitt won his second major with a final round triumph over Argentina’s clean ball striker David Nalbandian. Hewitt prevailed in straight sets in his customary fashion—ruling from the baseline with percentage shots off both sides and strategic acumen; returning serve with immense consistency; and succeeding with his court craft from the backcourt in a transformational way. Hewitt was the first Australian since Pat Cash in 1987 to take the Wimbledon singles crown. As he examined his Wimbledon triumph along with his overall playing style retrospectively, “It was really kind of a total changing of how tennis was played in a lot of ways. Apart from the likes of especially Andre Agassi in 1992, there were not a lot of guys that would stay back and play from the back of the court. A lot of guys learnt [after me] they could do it playing that way. That was probably my biggest thing.”

Comfortable with his status as the game’ standout player, Hewitt captured five titles across 2002 and finished at No. 1 in the world for the second year in a row, validating his status as a player who belonged at the top of his profession.

DAVIS CUP HEROICS

Although he slipped to No. 17 in 2003, Hewitt led Australia to victory again in the Davis Cup as the Australians defeated Spain in the final. He achieved a career defining victory in the semifinals against Switzerland when he rallied valiantly from two sets to love down to topple Roger Federer.

The following year, Hewitt was resurgent in many ways, reaching the final of the US Open, rising to No. 3 in the world. He then made it to his only final at the Australian Open in 2005 but bowed out against an inspired Marat Safin in Melbourne.

Injuries prevented Hewitt from performing at the height of his powers after 2005. Hewitt suffered with knee, back, hip and toe issues, and yet he played on with the same brand of pride and professionalism as he always had for many years, fighting ferociously to do whatever he could to meet his goals. Hewitt closed the curtain on his scintillating career at the 2016 Australian Open with a second round loss against world No. 8 David Ferrer, leaving the game honorably and reverentially, knowing he had reached back ceaselessly over the years with all of his resources.

AN OUTSTANDING RECORD OF SUPERB ACHIEVEMENTS

Across the board, Hewitt’s career was magnificent. He won 30 career singles titles, spent 80 total weeks at No. 1 in the world, handled the big occasions with extraordinary confidence, and set the highest standards as a front line competitor. Hewitt went on to become the Australian Davis Cup captain, transferring his unbridled passion for the game to his players, conveying his astute strategic acumen to those who were happy to absorb it, giving back to a game he has loved unabashedly ever since embracing it as a teenager.

Lleyton Hewitt made the most of everything he had. His accomplishments clearly were the product of his ingenuity, unflagging dedication to his craft, and one of the toughest minds and largest hearts of anyone who has ever stepped on a tennis court.