Home

Former Australia tennis star Lleyton Hewitt has been voted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame

AAPThe West Australian
Lleyton Hewitt reacts as John Millman of Australia wins a point against Thiago Seyboth Wild of Brazil in the Davis Cup Qualifier between Australia and Brazil.
Camera IconLleyton Hewitt reacts as John Millman of Australia wins a point against Thiago Seyboth Wild of Brazil in the Davis Cup Qualifier between Australia and Brazil. Credit: JAMES ELSBY/AAPIMAGE

Lleyton Hewitt, the youngest male player to be ranked world No.1, has been voted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in the Class of 2021.

The Australian star won grand slam singles titles at the US Open in 2001 and Wimbledon in 2002 and in November 2001 reached the top of the rankings at the age of just 20 years, 268 days.

Hewitt is also the youngest player to youngest year-end No.1, helped Australia win the Davis Cup twice and was a winner of 30 professional tournament, including back-to-back Masters Cup titles.

"When you are competing, you're so focused on training and your results that week or that year, you don't really look ahead to something like this," the 4-year-old Hewitt said.

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW

"But when that is all compiled up and deemed deserving of becoming a Hall of Famer, well, it's just the ultimate recognition for a player, and I'm so honoured."

Hewitt was the only one of five nominees in the player category - the others being Juan Carlos Ferrero, Sergi Bruguera, Jonas Bjorkman and Lisa Raymond - who was voted in.

The Game AFL 2024

Billie Jean King and the other members of the Original 9, who laid the groundwork for the women's professional tour, are the first group elected together.

September 2000, Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. Mens Tennis, Australian Lleyton Hewitt.
Camera IconSeptember 2000, Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. Mens Tennis, Australian Lleyton Hewitt. Credit: DEAN LEWINS/AAPIMAGE

Last year marked the 50th anniversary of when King, elected to the Hall in 1987 for her accomplishments on the court, and eight other players - Peaches Bartkowicz, Rosie Casals, Judy Dalton, Julie Heldman, Kerry Melville Reid, Kristy Pigeon, Nancy Richey and Valerie Ziegenfuss - took a stand against the disparity in prize money between men and women in the sport at the time.

That set the stage for the Virginia Slims circuit and eventually today's WTA Tour.

Now all four Grand Slam tournaments offer equal prize money to women and men.

The induction ceremony is scheduled for July 17 at the Hall in Newport, Rhode Island, and will also honour the former players voted in as the Class of 2020, Goran Ivanisevic and Conchita Martinez, because last year's festivities were called off because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Get the latest news from thewest.com.au in your inbox.

Sign up for our emails