Lleyton Hewitt announcement delights fans after huge Australian tennis honour

Lleyton Hewitt is set to be inducted into the Aussie tennis Hall of Fame at the Australian Open in January, after he entered the International Tennis Hall of Fame last year. Tennis Australia announced the news on Wednesday at the launch of the 2024 Australian Open.

The 42-year-old Hewitt will be honoured in a special ceremony at Rod Laver Arena on the second Wednesday (January 24) of the grand slam tournament. A bronze statue of Hewitt will be made, and will sit proudly alongside 46 other Aussie tennis greats in Garden Square at Melbourne Park.

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“It’s a great honour to be inducted into the Australian Tennis Hall of Fame, following in the footsteps of some of my great Australian idols,” Hewitt said. “I’ve always been such a proud Australian and loved the rich tennis history we have in our sport.”

Tennis Australia boss Craig Tiley said: “Lleyton has been an inspiration as a player and now as a leader in our sport, and I’m delighted to announce his induction into the Australian Tennis Hall of Fame. He was a warrior on the court and always put his country first, and we are all very grateful for everything he has contributed to tennis.”

Hewitt, who won two singles grand slams and made it to World No.1, was indicted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2022. After winning the US Open in 2001 and backing it up at Wimbledon in 2002, Hewitt finished both of those years as the No.1 player in the world.

In 2001 he became the youngest men's World No.1 in history when he was 20 years, eight months and 26 days. He spent a total of 80 weeks as the top-ranked men's player in tennis.

During his illustrious career he won 30 singles titles and was part of two Davis Cup championship teams - in 1999 and 2003. He has been the captain of the Aussie Davis Cup team since 2016 and led the side all the way to the final of the event last year - which marked a 19-year first.

Hewitt represented Australia at the Olympics three times and holds the record for most Davis Cup matches played for Australia, as well as most wins (59). He never won the Australian Open but finished runner-up in 2005, making him the first Aussie to reach the final at the tournament in 17 years.

Fans were delighted to learn of Hewitt's elevation to the Hall of Fame on Wednesday. Many flocked to social media to congratulate him.

Lleyton Hewitt says Alex de Minaur can win Australian Open

While Hewitt never managed to go all the way and win his home grand slam, the 42-year-old reckons Alex de Minaur is capable. Ash Barty broke a 44-year drought when she won the women's title in 2022, but no Aussie man has won the Australian Open since Mark Edmondson in 1976.

De Minaur has made the fourth round for the last two years and has risen to a career-best world ranking of No.11. "He's certainly got a chance," Hewitt told reporters on Wednesday. "He can do some pretty special things and I have full confidence every time he goes out there for me in Davis Cup that he can beat anyone.

"He's put himself in a position seeding-wise where he's going to give himself a shot. You can never take any of those first couple of rounds easily but he'll be ready for those. If he can get through and not cause too much damage to his body physically then I think he can push deep."

with AAP

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