Two-time Grand Slam singles champion and former world No.1 Lleyton Hewitt has grow to be one in every of seven new inductees into the Sport Australia Corridor of Fame.
Melbourne, VIC, 7 August 2025 | Sport Australia
Australian legend Lleyton Hewitt has grow to be the twenty fifth tennis participant to be inducted into the Sport Australia Corridor of Fame.
Hewitt carried on the wealthy traditions of Australian tennis greats, along with his extraordinary rise to world No.1 changing into one in every of Australian sport’s most compelling success tales.
Along with his trademark backwards-facing cap and fierce willpower, Hewitt’s journey started in his hometown of Adelaide, the place his expertise first emerged on the junior circuit.
His breakthrough got here on the 2001 US Open, the place he claimed his first Grand Slam singles title and have become the youngest world No.1 at simply 20 years previous. Hewitt maintained his maintain excessive rating for 75 consecutive weeks.
He additionally captured a second Grand Slam title at Wimbledon in 2002.
Hewitt’s passionate method got here by way of in his feisty on-court manner, fist-pumping “C’mon!” roar and aggressive baseline recreation. No person might query his combating spirit or dedication to Australian tennis.
His sturdiness was legendary, enjoying in a report 20 consecutive Australian Opens whereas proudly representing his nation in Davis Cup competitors. He has since taken on the captaincy of the Australian Davis Cup workforce, a place he has held for nearly a decade.
Hewitt’s contributions to tennis had been recognised along with his appointment as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 2016, induction into the Worldwide Tennis Corridor of Fame in 2022, and elevation to the Australian Tennis Corridor of Fame in 2024.
“It’s fairly surreal to be trustworthy. While you’re enjoying your skilled profession it’s not one thing you consider in any respect or concentrate on, however through the years rising up in Australia we’ve had such a wealthy historical past, not solely in our sport of tennis, but additionally in so many different nice sports activities as effectively, that I’ve had so many nice position fashions and idols that I’ve seemed as much as, all there within the Sport Australia Corridor of Fame. So for me now to be inducted is an unimaginable honour,” Hewitt mentioned.
“So many individuals have been part of the journey. I used to be lucky sufficient to play 20 Australian Opens in a row. From that younger age of 15/16 after I began enjoying at Melbourne Park and obtained the chance, I had just a few totally different coaches all through the pathway, however household and associates have all the time been there.
“Clearly, Mum, Dad and my sister have been nice assist, after which my spouse Bec and our three youngsters later in my profession. I couldn’t thank all these individuals sufficient. Tennis is a really particular person sport, however if you’re on the market on the street, lots of people must make so many sacrifices to provide the greatest alternative of enjoying effectively and competing arduous. I actually respect that.”
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