Lleyton Hewitt, a former No. 1 in the Emirates ATP Rankings, is stepping out of retirement to play doubles with compatriot Jordan Thompson at the Brisbane International presented by Suncorp. “I’m excited to play with Jordan in the doubles,” said Hewitt, who will partner his fellow Australian against 2017 Brisbane singles champion Grigor Dimitrov and Ryan Harrison in the first round. “There’s always such a great atmosphere at this tournament, and we’re looking forward to a tough match against Grigor and Ryan.” Hewitt's last tour-level match was also alongside Thompson, reaching the second round at Wimbledon in 2016. The former World No. 1 will also be playing doubles at the Australian Open with Sam Groth. It will be a thrill...
Lleyton Hewitt (Retired: 21 January) Lleyton Hewitt had already completed his final lap around the ATP World Tour in 2015, capped by a second-round finish at the Citi Open in Washington, but the Aussie legend had one last goodbye reserved for his home fans at the Australian Open. The former World No. 1 – and youngest to ever ascend to the top spot at age 20 – drew the curtain on his storied career in his 20th successive trip to Melbourne Park, defeating James Duckworth in his opener, before falling to eighth seed David Ferrer. As expected, the 34-year-old Hewitt left it all out on the court, but Ferrer held off the Aussie’s challenge to claim victory in two hours...
ATP World Tour Uncovered presented by Peugeot bids farewell and pays tribute to Lleyton Hewitt as the former World No. 1 retires from professional tennis at the Australian Open.
Nobody spoils more for a fight than Lleyton Hewitt. The bigger the match, the higher ranked the opponent, the more on the line, the better he was. The Aussie firebrand would summon his burning “fire in the belly” to raise his game to unprecedented levels when his opponent also occupied a spot in the coveted Top 10. Hewitt’s dogged determination to succeed produced the unthinkable at the height of his powers in 2001 – a better return record against Top 10 opponents than against the Top 50. If Hewitt looked over the net and saw one his peers ranked in the upper echelon of the Emirates ATP Rankings, his iron will to succeed became the single biggest weapon on the...