Lleyton Hewitt facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Lleyton Hewitt
AM

Full name	Lleyton Glynn Hewitt
Country (sports)	Australia
Residence	Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Born	(1981-02-24) 24 February 1981 (age 44) Adelaide, South Australia
Spouse(s)	Bec Cartwright ​ (m. 2005)​
Children	3
Height	1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Turned pro	1998
Retired	2016 (singles) 2020 (doubles)
Plays	Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Coach	Coaches list
Prize money	US$20,889,965  30th all-time leader in earnings
Int. Tennis HoF	2021 (member page)
Singles
Career record	616–262 (70.16%) (70.2%)
Career titles	30
Highest ranking	No. 1 (19 November 2001)
Grand Slam singles results
Australian Open	F (2005)
French Open	QF (2001, 2004)
Wimbledon	W (2002)
US Open	W (2001)
Other tournaments
Tour Finals	W (2001, 2002)
Olympic Games	3R (2012)
Doubles
Career record	134–112 (54.47%) (54.5%)
Career titles	3
Highest ranking	No. 18 (23 October 2000)
Grand Slam doubles results
Australian Open	QF (2018)
French Open	2R (1999)
Wimbledon	3R (1999, 2012, 2014, 2015)
US Open	W (2000)
Other doubles tournaments
Olympic Games	QF (2008)
Mixed doubles
Career record	9–5 (64.29%)
Career titles	0
Grand Slam mixed doubles results
Australian Open	1R (1998)
French Open	3R (2000)
Wimbledon	F (2000)
Other mixed doubles tournaments
Olympic Games	QF (2012)
Team competitions
Davis Cup	W (1999, 2003)
Hopman Cup	F (2003)

Lleyton Hewitt is a famous Australian former professional tennis player. He was once ranked as the world No. 1 in men's singles. He held this top spot for 80 weeks. Lleyton was the year-end No. 1 in both 2001 and 2002.

He won 30 singles titles and 3 doubles titles during his career. This includes two major singles titles: the US Open in 2001 and Wimbledon in 2002. He also won a doubles major at the US Open in 2000. Lleyton won the Tennis Masters Cup (now ATP Finals) in singles twice, in 2001 and 2002. He also helped Australia win the Davis Cup in 1999 and 2003.

In November 2001, Lleyton became the youngest man at the time to reach No. 1 in the ATP singles rankings. He was 20 years old. He also reached the finals of the US Open in 2004 and the Australian Open in 2005. Lleyton Hewitt is the most recent Australian man to win a major singles title. In 2021, he was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

Early Life and Tennis Start

Lleyton Hewitt was born in Adelaide, South Australia. His father, Glynn, played Australian rules football. His mother, Cherilyn, was a physical education teacher. Lleyton has a younger sister, Jaslyn, who was a tennis coach and bodybuilder.

Lleyton also played Australian Football until he was 13. Then, he decided to focus on a tennis career. He trained at Seaside Tennis Club and Denman Tennis Club.

Lleyton's Tennis Journey

Lleyton started his professional tennis career in 1998. He became one of the youngest players to win an Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) tournament. This happened when he won the 1998 Next Generation Adelaide International. He beat Jason Stoltenberg in the final and even defeated tennis legend Andre Agassi in the semi-finals.

After this win, Lleyton left school to fully focus on tennis. He was also supported by a scholarship from the Australian Institute of Sport. He played his last professional singles match on January 21, 2016, at the 2016 Australian Open. He had played in 20 Australian Opens in a row.

Junior Years and First Major Appearance

As a junior player, Lleyton had a strong record. He won 44 matches and lost 19 in singles. He reached a high ranking of No. 17 in the world for juniors in 1997.

Junior Singles Title

No.	Date	Tournament	Surface	Opponent	Score
1.	8 April 1997	Manila, Philippines	Hard	Wesley Whitehouse	6–4, 6–3

Hewitt and fellow Australian Mark Philippoussis during a doubles match in 2005.

2000: Winning a US Open Doubles Title

In 2000, Lleyton reached his first major final in mixed doubles at Wimbledon. He played with his girlfriend at the time, Kim Clijsters. They lost the match.

Later that year, Lleyton won his first Grand Slam title. He and Max Mirnyi won the men's doubles championship at the US Open. This made Lleyton the youngest male player to win a Grand Slam doubles title in the Open Era. He was 19 years and 6 months old.

2001: US Open Champion and World No. 1

Lleyton had a fantastic year in 2001. He won titles in Sydney, Queen's, and 's-Hertogenbosch. He then won his first major singles title at the US Open. He beat former world No. 1 Yevgeny Kafelnikov in the semi-finals. The next day, he defeated four-time champion Pete Sampras in straight sets.

After this, Lleyton won the Tokyo Open. He also qualified for the year-end Tennis Masters Cup in Sydney. By winning his group matches, he secured the year-end world No. 1 ranking. He then won the tournament, confirming his spot as the world's top player.

2002: Wimbledon Victory and Staying No. 1

The year 2002 started tough for Lleyton. He lost in the first round of the Australian Open. This was unusual for a No. 1 seed. However, he quickly bounced back.

He won three more titles: San Jose, Indian Wells, and Queen's. He then won the Wimbledon singles title. He beat David Nalbandian in the final in straight sets. This win showed that a player who mostly stays at the back of the court (a baseliner) could win on grass, which was usually dominated by players who rushed to the net. Lleyton was the last man outside the "Big Four" (Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, Murray) to win Wimbledon until 2023.

For the third year in a row, he qualified for the year-end Tennis Masters Cup in Shanghai. He successfully defended his title, beating Juan Carlos Ferrero in the final. Lleyton finished the year ranked No. 1 for the second straight year.

2003: Second Davis Cup Title

In 2003, Lleyton won the title at Indian Wells. However, at Wimbledon, as the defending champion, he lost in the first round. This was a rare event for a defending champion.

After Wimbledon, Lleyton focused on the Davis Cup. He helped Australia win the Davis Cup by winning important matches against Roger Federer and Juan Carlos Ferrero. Australia won the Davis Cup that year.

2004: US Open and Masters Cup Finals

In 2004, Lleyton reached the finals of the US Open and the Tennis Masters Cup. In both finals, he lost to Roger Federer. He also lost to the eventual champion in all four major tournaments that year.

2005: Australian Open Final

In 2005, Lleyton won his only title of the year in Sydney. He then reached his first Australian Open final. He was the first Australian man to reach this final since 1988. He lost to Marat Safin in a tough match.

At Wimbledon and the US Open, he reached the semi-finals but lost to Roger Federer both times. Lleyton missed the Tennis Masters Cup in November 2005 to be with his wife, Bec, who was expecting their child.

Hewitt at the 2006 US Open.

2006: Winning His 25th Career Title

Lleyton won his first tournament in 17 months at the Queen's Club Championships in 2006. This was his fourth title there, matching records set by John McEnroe and Boris Becker. At Wimbledon, he reached the quarterfinals. He also made it to the quarterfinals of the US Open for the seventh year in a row.

2007: Winning His 26th Career Title

In 2007, Lleyton won the Las Vegas tournament. This meant he had won at least one ATP title every year for ten years in a row, a record among active players at the time. He reached the semi-finals of the Hamburg Masters and the quarterfinals and semi-finals of other big tournaments. He hired former Australian tennis pro Tony Roche as his coach for major tournaments.

2008: Dealing with Injuries

Lleyton faced hip injuries in 2008. These injuries affected his playing schedule. He still managed to reach the fourth round of the 2008 Australian Open and Wimbledon. He also played at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. After the Olympics, he had to have hip surgery and missed the rest of the season. This was the first year since 1997 that Lleyton did not win a title.

2009: A Clay Court Title and Wimbledon Quarterfinals

After his hip surgery, Lleyton returned to play in 2009. He won his first clay-court title in ten years at the 2009 U.S. Men's Clay Court Championships. He also achieved his 500th career win, becoming one of only a few active players to reach this milestone.

At the 2009 Wimbledon Championships, Lleyton had a great run. He reached the quarterfinals, his best result at a major tournament since 2006. He played many exciting matches, including a five-set comeback win.

Hewitt at the 2009 US Open.

2010: Halle Title and a Win Over Federer

Lleyton Hewitt at the 2010 Australian Open.

Lleyton started 2010 by reaching the quarterfinals of the Medibank International. He then had another hip operation in January. He returned to the tour later that year.

In June, Lleyton defeated Roger Federer in the final of the 2010 Gerry Weber Open in Germany. This was his first win over Federer since 2003, ending a long losing streak against him. At Wimbledon, he reached the fourth round.

2011: More Surgery and Ranking Changes

In 2011, Lleyton continued to face injury challenges. He had surgery on his left foot, which kept him off the tour for over three months. He returned to play at the Gerry Weber Open, where he was the defending champion. He also played at Wimbledon, but his season ended early due to his foot injury.

2012: Reaching an ATP Final

Lleyton started 2012 at the Hopman Cup. At the 2012 Australian Open, he received a special entry (wildcard). He had a strong run, reaching the fourth round before losing to world No. 1 Novak Djokovic. After this, he needed another operation on his toe.

Lleyton Hewitt at the French Open in 2012.

He later reached his first ATP final in two years at the Newport tournament. He also competed in his third Olympics in London, reaching the third round in singles and the quarterfinals in mixed doubles.

2013: Five Top Ten Wins

In 2013, Lleyton won his second title at the AAMI Kooyong Classic exhibition event. He had a good year, beating five players ranked in the top ten. At Wimbledon, he beat top ten player Stanislas Wawrinka in the first round.

He reached the final of the Hall-of-Fame Championships and the semi-finals of the Atlanta Open. At the US Open, he had an exciting five-set win against former champion Juan Martín del Potro. Lleyton's strong performance in 2013 earned him the Newcombe Medal as the most outstanding Australian tennis player.

2014: 30th Career Title and 600 Wins

Lleyton started 2014 by winning the 2014 Brisbane International title. He beat Roger Federer in the final, which was his 29th career title. This win also boosted his ranking and made him the Australian number one again.

Lleyton Hewitt at the Queen's Club in 2014.

He achieved his 600th ATP win, becoming only the third active player to reach this milestone. At the Newport Hall of Fame Tennis Championships, Lleyton won his 30th career singles title. He also won the doubles title there with Chris Guccione.

Hewitt in Madrid in 2014.

2015: Farewell Year

Lleyton announced his plans to retire after the 2016 Australian Open. He also planned to become the captain of the Australian Davis Cup team. He played in his 19th consecutive Australian Open.

At Wimbledon, in his final appearance, he played a memorable five-set match in the first round. He also played in the Davis Cup, helping Australia reach the semi-finals.

2016: Retirement from Singles

Hewitt playing alongside James Blake in a doubles tournament in 2023 after retiring from singles.

Lleyton played his final singles tournament at the 2016 Australian Open. He won his first-round match but lost in the second round to David Ferrer. After the match, many famous players praised his career and fighting spirit.

In March, Lleyton came out of retirement briefly to play doubles in the Davis Cup as a player-captain. He also played doubles at Wimbledon later that year.

2018: Doubles Comeback

In December 2017, Lleyton announced he would play doubles at the 2018 Australian Open with Sam Groth. They had a great run, reaching the quarterfinals. This was his best doubles result at the Australian Open. He continued to play doubles in several tournaments throughout 2018.

2019-2020: Continuing to Play Doubles

Lleyton continued to play doubles in 2019 and 2020. He played with various partners, including Jordan Thompson. In 2020, he played in his hometown of Adelaide for the first time in over a decade. He also played doubles at the Australian Open.

Lleyton now often works as a commentator for matches at the Australian Open.

Representing Australia

Davis Cup

Lleyton first played for Australia in the Davis Cup in 1999 when he was 18. He helped Australia win the Davis Cup in 1999 and 2003. He holds several Australian Davis Cup records, including most wins and most singles wins. He has beaten many top-ranked players in Davis Cup matches.

World Team Cup

Lleyton also played for Australia in the World Team Cup. He helped Australia win the title in 2001. He had a perfect singles record in 2003, winning all his matches.

Olympics

Hewitt at the London Olympics in 2012.

Lleyton played in his first Olympics in 2000 in Sydney. He also competed in the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and the London Olympics in 2012. In London, he reached the third round in singles and the quarterfinals in mixed doubles.

Coaches

Lleyton had several coaches during his professional career:

• Peter Smith (1997–1998)
• Darren Cahill (1998–2001)
• Jason Stoltenberg (2001–2003)
• Roger Rasheed (2003–2007)
• Scott Draper (2007)
• Tony Roche (2007–2009, 2010–2016)
• Nathan Healey (2009–2010)
• Brett Smith (2010)
• Peter Luczak (2013–2016)

Key Rivalries

Hewitt vs. Federer

Lleyton and Roger Federer played each other 27 times. Early in their careers, Lleyton won more often. However, from 2004 onwards, Federer won most of their matches. Their last meeting was in 2014, where Lleyton beat Federer to win a title. They even played doubles together at Wimbledon in 1999.

Hewitt vs. Roddick

Lleyton's second longest rivalry was against American Andy Roddick. They played 14 times. Lleyton won six of their first seven matches. Later in their careers, Roddick won more often, and their rivalry ended with seven wins each.

Hewitt vs. Argentinian Players

A rivalry between Lleyton and Argentinian tennis players started at the 2002 Wimbledon final. Lleyton beat David Nalbandian from Argentina. This rivalry became more intense in 2005 during matches at the Australian Open and the Davis Cup.

Playing Style

Lleyton Hewitt preparing to return a serve.

Lleyton Hewitt was known as a "defensive counterpuncher." This means he liked to stay at the back of the court during rallies. He would often hit the ball deep and chase down his opponent's shots. He was very good at returning serves, even difficult ones.

Lleyton was also skilled at hitting volleys (shots hit before the ball bounces) and overhead smashes. His special shot was the offensive topspin lob, which he used when opponents came to the net. Many experts said his lob was the best in the world. He was also known for choosing his shots very wisely.

Awards and Recognition

• 2001 – ATP Player of the Year
• 2002 – ATP Player of the Year
• 2002 – Australia's Male Athlete
• 2003 – Young Australian of the Year
• 2011 – Newcombe Medal. Spirit of Tennis Award
• 2013 – Newcombe Medal. Most outstanding Australian player in 2013
• Davis Cup Commitment Award
• 2016 – Member of the Order of Australia for his great service to tennis and the community.

Equipment

Lleyton has been sponsored by companies like Nike, Athletic DNA, and Yonex. Yonex provided his racquets, shoes, and other gear. His Yonex shoes often had his nickname "Rusty" and an Australian flag on them.

Personal Life

Lleyton is a big fan of Australian rules football. He supports the Adelaide Crows.

He was engaged to Belgian tennis player Kim Clijsters in 2003, but they later separated. In 2005, Lleyton married Australian actress Bec Cartwright. They have three children together.

Lleyton's nickname is "Rusty." It was given to him by his former coach, Darren Cahill. He was also sometimes called "Rocky" by fans because of his fighting spirit, like the movie character Rocky Balboa.

In April 2021, his son, Cruz Hewitt, won a junior tennis title in Australia. In January 2024, Cruz played in the junior tournament at the Australian Open.

Career Statistics

Singles Performance in Major Tournaments

Major Tournament Finals

Singles: 4 (2 Wins, 2 Losses)

Result	Year	Championship	Surface	Opponent	Score
Win	2001	US Open	Hard	Pete Sampras	7–6(7–4), 6–1, 6–1
Win	2002	Wimbledon	Grass	David Nalbandian	6–1, 6–3, 6–2
Loss	2004	US Open	Hard	Roger Federer	0–6, 6–7(3–7), 0–6
Loss	2005	Australian Open	Hard	Marat Safin	6–1, 3–6, 4–6, 4–6

Doubles: 1 (1 Win)

Result	Year	Championship	Surface	Partner	Opponents	Score
Win	2000	US Open	Hard	Max Mirnyi	Ellis Ferreira Rick Leach	6–4, 5–7, 7–6(7–5)

Mixed Doubles: 1 (1 Loss)

Result	Year	Championship	Surface	Partner	Opponents	Score
Loss	2000	Wimbledon	Grass	Kim Clijsters	Kimberly Po Donald Johnson	4–6, 6–7(3–7)

Year-End Championship Finals

Singles: 3 (2 Wins, 1 Loss)

Result	Year	Championship	Surface	Opponent	Score
Win	2001	Sydney	Hard (i)	Sébastien Grosjean	6–3, 6–3, 6–4
Win	2002	Shanghai	Hard (i)	Juan Carlos Ferrero	7–5, 7–5, 2–6, 2–6, 6–4
Loss	2004	Houston	Hard	Roger Federer	3–6, 2–6

Masters Series Finals

Singles: 7 (2 Wins, 5 Losses)

Result	Year	Tournament	Surface	Opponent	Score
Loss	2000	Stuttgart, Germany	Hard (i)	Wayne Ferreira	6–7(6–8), 6–3, 7–6(7–5), 6–7(2–7), 2–6
Win	2002	Indian Wells, US	Hard	Tim Henman	6–1, 6–2
Loss	2002	Cincinnati, US	Hard	Carlos Moyá	5–7, 6–7(5–7)
Loss	2002	Paris, France	Carpet (i)	Marat Safin	6–7(4–7), 0–6, 4–6
Win	2003	Indian Wells, US (2)	Hard	Gustavo Kuerten	6–1, 6–1
Loss	2004	Cincinnati, US	Hard	Andre Agassi	3–6, 6–3, 2–6
Loss	2005	Indian Wells, US	Hard	Roger Federer	2–6, 4–6, 4–6

Records

See also

In Spanish: Lleyton Hewitt para niños