He will go down as one of our greatest ever athletes, yet he’s far from the best in his sport. In fact, his record at the majors isn’t even at the top of Australia’s list. But statistics and wins don’t tell the full story of Lleyton Hewitt.
This month, the boy from Adelaide’s name will be among the 128 starters in the Australian Open men’s draw, just as it was in 1997 when he was 15 years old.
His form for his 19th appearance differs from his 18th, when he beat Roger Federer in the final of the Brisbane International. This year Hewitt enters on the back of a first-round loss to compatriot Sam Groth. But even that won’t diminish the life of the 33-year-old.
“All my practice sets have been first class,” said Hewitt after the loss.
“I’ve got to still try and stay as positive as can be. But then again I won here last year and then lost first round in the open, so it’d be nice if I could do a bit better in the Aussie Open and lose first round here.”
To realise the extent of Hewitt’s remarkable career, you have to go back to the beginning. When most kids were serving burgers, Hewitt was serving sliders as the Australian Open’s youngest ever player.
The following year, ranked 550 in the world, more records tumbled, as the baseliner took out Andre Agassi on his way to victory in Adelaide. He became the lowest ranked player to win an ATP event, at 16 years of age.
From there the nation became part of a great sporting journey. By the end of 2001, Hewitt had the US Open trophy in the garage, and was the youngest male ever to the number one ranking, a position he held for a total of 80 weeks. A year later he would mend the broken hearts of Australian tennis fans – suffered after Goran Ivanisevic denied Pat Rafter the Wimbledon crown in five gruelling sets – and claim the most prestigious individual trophy in the game.
Despite winning Wimbledon just four years after turning professional, another major title has since eluded Hewitt, more a victim of his time than a drop in performance. In 2004, Hewitt made another Grand Slam final, this time against a man who will go down as arguably the greatest player of all time: Roger Federer.
Hewitt can take solace knowing he was the last player to dominate the game before the golden era of Federer, then Federer and Rafael Nadal, and then the ‘Big Four’ took over.
What adds to the story is the recent seasons and struggles on tour. His best tennis is behind him, but that’s not to say great tennis isn’t within him. The losses occur more often, to names we’ve never seen, or pronounced, but all that is worth it for those couple of tournaments a year when it all comes together, like it did in Brisbane last year.
Many have come and gone in Hewitt’s time in the men’s game, but Australia’s most successful Davis Cup player remains. When his time does come to leave the broken strings in the racquet, or catch up with Tony Roche over a beer and not the game tape, he can do so knowing the game is in the best hands it’s been in since he entered aged 15 years and 11 months. His good mate Rafter is in charge of player development at Tennis Australia, and for once the talent pool looks to be filling.
So what should we expect from this fighting warrior over two weeks at Melbourne Park?
“As you get into the 30s, it’s harder to get yourself up for matches – I know,” legend Rod Laver told reporters last week. “But I think he will still have a good Australian Open.
“He’s not a young player any more but he’s a talent – he’s been brilliant since he was 16.”
Whether Hewitt can beat last year’s effort, or even make the second week remains to be seen. But whatever happens, there’ll be nothing left on the court, because it’s all he’s known since his mates were flipping burgers.
Johnno
Guest
Laver i didn't include coz he was hardly in his prime in the 70's in the open era. He won no slams in the open era 1970 onwards, and was 32 by the time 1970 came around.
Jerry
Guest
Hewitt could be tier 3, but if so Lendl & Becker should be Tier 2. They should anyway, to be honest.
Rod
Guest
Where does Laver sit in your player rating , he is Australia's greatest player and certainly ahead of Borg and McEnroe .
David Hayward
Roar Pro
I was also referring to the 1999 QF when Scud went down with a knee injury when he was dominating, but the statement was meant to reference that and the epic '96 win.
Avatar
Roar Guru
"...and completely outplayed Sampras in his prime at Wimbledon." Did you mean at the Australian Open in 1996, when the Scud sent Sampras packing very early in the tournament?
David Hayward
Roar Pro
Ease up on Scud would ya Kev, the guy made two Grand Slam finals, including one to Federer at Wimbledon, won two Davis Cups for Australia and completely outplayed Sampras in his prime at Wimbledon. Comparing him to Hewitt is ridiculous, Scud's 6'5'' frame is not conducive to long successful career's in tennis as their potential is often not fully reached due to inevitable serious injuries, just look at Safin, Ivanisevic, Haas etc. They all had similar careers to Scud, some slightly more successful than others, but it is a fine line when it comes to Grand Slams, it often comes down to good timing, health and luck of the draw. The amount of injuries Scud overcame to have the year he did in 2003 was phenomenal and required a heap of determination.
matth
Guest
I think the Djoker is pretty much a tier 1 now
Johnno
Guest
Geoff We have to agree too disagree. I'm not sure Hewitt is in the same class as Becker,Edberg,Wilander. Andy Roddick is another one, who for me was Tier 4. And Pat Rafter I reckon some her have been hard on him but his record is damn good, and he pushed Agassi and Sampras often. From memory in 2000, at Wimbeldon he beat Agassi in a 5-set classic in the semi's, then lost to Sampras in the final in 4 sets, after taking the first he chocked a bit after. But his record is very good vs Agassi and Sampras, he didn't always win but he made them work, Agassi beat him in a 5 set epic one year at the aussie open after Rafter lead sets to 1. And Rafter has played Federer 3 times and is the ony player with Sergi Brugera never to lose a match to Fed, but Fed was young eg 18-21, but Rafter beat him 3 times. But Rafter was good. Is Hewitt overrated or underrated, I'd say a bit of both in some circles. Guillermo Vilas, and Ilie Nastase were 2 other great players,probably Tier 4. But I wouldn't say Hewitt was any better than Jim Courier or Andy Murray.
Kev
Guest
A fair assessment of Hewitt. Doesn't have half the weapons that his opponents had but boy will he make you work for a win. Would also have a Tier 5 is generous for a player like Scud. He was a waste of talent. White hot or ice cold with nothing in between. Always wondered what he could have achieved if he had half of Hewitt's determination.
David Hayward
Roar Pro
I disagree with your tier ranking Tennis Fan, Hewitt belongs in Tier 4 or 5. He was World No.1 in an era where pundits were legitimately questioning whether the Women's World No 1 was stronger than the Men's equivalent, largely due to the style and skill of Hewitt's game. Completely agree though with your success to natural talent ratio though - Hewitt is occupies Tier 1 on his own!
Geoff Smith
Roar Rookie
Good debate guys. Johnno, I like your tiers mate, but agree with Tennis Fan that Hewitt should be in your tier three at least. My main point was that although Hewitt might not be one of the game's greats, he should go down as one of Australia's best sportsmen. Good call on Agassi too Reesy. I reckon we sometimes forget too that Hewitt and Federer are the same age and came through the juniors together. So when the Fed was still finding his game, Hewitt was number one in the world. I just reckon the South Aussie lad doesn't always get the credit he deserves, especially for keeping the sport alive in Australia when there was no one else at the top level.
Reesy
Guest
I disagree Tennis Fan. Agassi won 8 grand slam singles titles and is one of only 7 players (including only 4 in the open era, others being Federer, Nadal and Laver) to complete the career grand slam by winning all four majors. He has also won an Olympic gold medal and three Davis Cups for his country. He is one of the greatest. He may not have spent as many weeks at number 1 as Hewitt or some others but he played in a much more competitive era than Hewitt. Hewitt has 2 majors and 2 Davis Cups by comparison and although spent longer at number 1 he rose to prominence in a transitional era when the US greats (Sampras, Agassi, Courier etc) were declining and Federer, Nadal etc were still boys. He has had 18 consecutive attempts at trying to win the Australian Open and hasn't done it. Hewitt is not in the same echelon as Agassi in my opinion.
DT
Guest
Cheers Geoff, Great piece! Really good to see an article that focuses on his tennis and not the public opinion of him.
Tennis Fan
Guest
I disagree - you cant compare a guy that spent 80 weeks at number one and put him in the same tier as someone who spent 1 week at no. 1. Multi year end no 1, multi slam winner, davis cup winner and someone who had more success to natural talent ratio than anyone on the list (scud is the reverse of this ratio). Sure not the greatest of all time but not out of place rubbing shoulders with your top 3 tiers.
Johnno
Guest
Hewitt is great, but not sure he is one of the top tier of greats (Tier 1)-1970-2015 -Tier 1: Bjorg,Connors,Mcenroe,Sampras,Federer,Nadal -Tier 2- Agassi,Djokervic -Tier 3-Becker,Edberg,Wilander,Lendl,John Newcombe -Tier 4- Hewitt is a Tier 4, like Pat Rafter,Jim Courier,Safin,Andy Murray,Thomas Muster types,and a few others, -Tier 5's- Are players like Scud,Richard Krajicek,Michael Chang, regular top 10 journeymen