Lleyton Hewitt has announced he will retire from professional tennis after the 2016 edition of the Australian Open.
Hewitt made the announcement today, and will take over as Australia’s Davis Cup captain after he steps down from the professional stage.
The 2016 Australian Open will be his 20th straight appearance at Melbourne Park, a remarkable achievement.
Hewitt also indicated he would not play a full-time load in 2015, and will likely skip the 2015 French Open.
In further developments around the Davis Cup captaincy, current captain Pat Rafter has stepped down with Hewitt anointed as his long-term successor.
With Hewitt set to play out the rest of 2015 and early 2016, Wally Masur will officially captain Australia on an interim basis in the upcoming tie against the Czech Republic.
Rafter said Hewitt will “fill the spot when the time is ready”. The time he is ready, it appears, is straight after the 2016 Australian Open.
Hewitt plans to keep playing on sparingly in 2015, focusing on the Cup and Wimbledon, with next year’s Australian Open shaping as his likely swansong.
The 33-year-old father of three said finishing his career at Melbourne Park in a record 20th straight Open would be the perfect way to bow out.
“I’ve thought long and hard. I plan to play the Aussie Open next year and most likely finish then. Obviously for me the Davis Cup is something we’ve worked extremely hard to put ourselves in a position in the World Group where we have a genuine shot. I believe with the guys now we have a lot more options, a lot more depth,” Hewitt said.
“I feel like I can still put my hand up as a player and help the boys get over the line. Whether that’s singles, doubles, whatever is needed. Right at the moment that’s the main focus for us.
“Personally I’ll be looking towards the grass court season and most likely finishing here in Melbourne, which for me would obviously be special to play 20 Australian Opens.”
“My body is fine,” he said.
“I think I train harder than anyone else in the off-season.”
Hewitt has long been groomed for the Davis Cup role and doubles great and former teammate Todd Woodbridge last week told AAP the dual grand slam champion would be perfect for the job.
“It’s a great result,” Woodbridge said.
“You’ve got no one more passionate about it, no one with more experience.”
Masur said it was an honour to take over the captaincy – even on an interim basis.
“I feel like we’ve got a chance to win the whole thing (this year),” he said.
With AAP
Rik J
Roar Rookie
I agree. Both had 2 slams and 2 finals, but Hewitt's career titles and weeks at #1 clinch it for me. If not for an ill-timed bout of chicken pox, he'd have won the Aussie Open in 2002 as well... he was undoubtedly the best hardcourt player in the world at that time.
MJ
Guest
He'll get a WC for sure, there's no way he'll be playing if he has to qualify. Otherwise he'd play more than the bare minimum Clay court tournaments this year.
Avatar
Roar Guru
No doubt about that but I also hope there will be more successful Aussies this millennium.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Hewitt number 1 for me.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
one of? Not sure on that. He will be our best player in the 2000's. Was the only player who won a Grand Slam and went to world number 1.
Johnno
Guest
The problem is who says Hewitt will make it as a top ranked 128 players. He may have to depend on a wild car entry to get in, or qualifying.
Beny Iniesta
Guest
He will not win the Aussie Open next year - you must be on drugs! (Happy pills at least!)
Shouts Chen
Guest
I have heard on Facebook that Hewitt decided that he wants to retire from the Australian Open Tennis. This will be his 20th Oz Open in 2016 and he is staying fit. Look at the youngsters like Nick Kygrios, Bernard Tomic, Sam Groth and T Kokkinakis. Nick Kygrios is a promising player where he reached the 4th Round of the Australian Open. Hewitt hasn't won an Australian Open before but if he wins next year, this would be a fantastic farewell to a tennis legend.
jamesb
Guest
I can understand why Hewitt wants to retire after the Australian open next year. It will be his 20th Oz Open and he wants to play another 12 months so that he can play Davis Cup, which Australia, barring injury, will field a pretty handy team. You look at the team of Kyrios, Tomic, Groth, Kokkinakis and Hewitt himself, it may trouble a few teams. Four of those players are in the top 100, with Tomic and Kyrios to be somewhere in the top 40 or 50. While Kokkinakis is just outside the top 100, but he is a promising kid. I think its Australia's best team since the winning Davis Cup team of 2003. The team does have depth for a change. And IMO, that's probably the only reason why Hewitt is playing on in 2015- Davis Cup. He has had a great career. Two grand slams, 30 career titles, former world number 1 and two Davis cup wins. Sure those achievements happened a long time ago, but he still achieve those of feats.
Johnno
Guest
Aussie tennis best ever men 1980-2015 in order 1)Pat Rafter 2)Hewitt 3)Pat Cash 4)Phillipousous 5)Wally Masur(for now, but will be overtaken I reckon sooner rather than later) 6)Mark Woodforde/Todd Woodbridge/Jason Stoltenberg (a tie) all achieved same ranking and each made a GS semi 7)Darren Cahill 8)Bernard Tomic 9)Nick Kyrigos 10)John Fitzgerald 11)Wayne Arthurs 12)Thomas Kokkinkas
Rik J
Roar Rookie
I'll never forget watching Lleyton beat Andy Roddick, Tommy Haas, Yevgeny Kafelnikov and Pete Sampras to win the US Open. Wimbledon is probably seen as his crowning achievement, but the draw he overcame in Flushing Meadows was staggering. A close second would be Davis Cup 2003... Hewitt's epic comeback from two sets down against Roger Federer in the semi final, followed by sweet revenge over Spain in the final. If I may.... COME OOOOOOON!!!!!!!!
Avatar
Roar Guru
Eventually Lleyton will go down as one of Australia's most successful male tennis players of the 2000s. Well played Rusty.
Lancey5times
Guest
Sir Lleyton Hewitt has a nice ring to it. In saying that, so does Sir Rod Laver and Sir Allan Border. Hard to know how this knighthood stuff works. Well played Lleyton. Absolute legend