Two-time Grand Slam champion Lleyton Hewitt was inducted into the Worldwide Tennis Corridor of Fame (ITHF) on Saturday, after the Infosys Corridor of Fame semi-final, in a gala that was watched by legends Stan Smith, Tony Roach, Andy Roddick, Tracy Austin, Gigi Fernandez, amongst others. .
Set off by Tennis Channel host Brett Haber with speeches by ITHF CEO Todd Martin and Stan Smith, it was a celebration of Hewitt’s dedication, frail spirit, the Davis Cup and “loyalty” that Hewitt valued a lot.
Legendary Lleyton Hewitt inducted into the Tennis Corridor of Fame!
? The smallest world file in historical past
? 80 weeks as #1
? 2 Grand Slam titles
? 30 titles
? First title at age 16 pic.twitter.com/816yUhpfLH WeAreTennis July 17 2022
It was a serendipitous place contemplating the ITFH grounds have been the place the 41-year-old Australian gained his final match, the Corridor of Fame (because it was then identified) tennis match in 2014.
The meticulously maintained grass courts have been the one place Hewitt gained the championship titles in each singles and doubles, reaching a lifelong profession feat. The induction ceremony was additionally held on the designated stadium the place the two-time Grand Slam champion performed his first match on the website.
The Tennis Corridor of Fame had a particular that means for Lleyton Hewitt, which the proud Australian spoke about in his speech. In an actual manner, the fiery participant additionally refused to shorten his speech and warned the captive viewers that it could be lengthy.
No person cares, although. The celebration was full of honoring pivotal people who noticed a lot potential in a hardcore, transvestite and enthusiastic tennis participant from Adelaide, South Australia. Lleyton Hewitt has been honored by a lot of his ‘colleagues’, household, friends and followers who’ve praised his 18 yr profession.
The 2 legends which were there because the starting
Two main Australian legends gave Hoyt an early likelihood: twenty fourth Sydney champion (together with seven in singles) John Newcombe and sixteenth title winner Tony Roach.
As captain and coach of the Australian Davis Cup (and lots of the Davis Cup winners themselves), they noticed in Hewitt the form of intense starvation for the sport that impressed his choice for the Australian Davis Cup group in 1999.
The 2 tennis statesmen spoke about their first impressions of younger Hewitt in a humorous and charming tribute video that was proven through the ceremony.
“I bear in mind my first assembly with Lytton was at a charity occasion in Adelaide.
“He will need to have been about 12 or 13,” mentioned Tony Roach, “and I used to be very impressed together with his sport, even at that younger age.” However I used to be extra into the mullet haircut, actually. It appears all Adelaide youngsters have these lovely mullet hairstyles.
However yeah, Lytton, you could possibly inform it could be one thing particular.”
(Aspect notice, Hewitt rocked a mullet earlier than Open Champion Sam Smith grew to become well-known once more.) Newcomb—whom Hewitt at all times known as “Newc”—reported an anecdote about Hewitt’s obsession with the underdog “Rocky Balboa.”
Later, followers coined the nickname “Rocky” for Hoyt as a consequence of all of his emphatic shouts of “Come on Balboa” throughout matches.
“In 2000 we performed the finals in opposition to Spain and on the primary day Leighton needed to play Albert Costa and it was an unimaginable match.
There was a struggle there. In the long run, Leighton led 5-4 within the fifth set together with his serve. He got here round, fell in love with 40 on his serve and went to the again of the sphere and was screaming on the ground. And everybody wished to know why he is screaming on the ground? And what he was doing was he liked the Rocky motion pictures.
Rocky was his hero and he was placing himself in that different individual. So, he was shouting on the ground, ‘Come on, Rocky. Rise up, Balboa. Battle, battle, come to the rock. He went out and gained 5 consecutive factors.
Unbelievable effort. “And we’re proud, Lytton, to have identified you and to have the ability to spend time with you. It has been an honor for us.”
Roach was additionally happy to shock Hewitt the evening earlier than whereas the Corridor of Fame recruit was out for dinner with family and friends, who wasn’t anticipating Tony Roach to be on the occasion in individual.
Ardour for the Davis Cup
Underneath the steerage of Newcombe and Roche, Hewitt’s debut for the Australian Davis Cup group in 1999 culminated in Match in Heaven, which led to his nation’s victory in his first yr. Martin defeated the Corridor of Fame CEO on that important first outing, who smiled sweetly when he recalled Hewitt’s victory.
The Davis Cup proved pivotal to Hewitt’s profession, as he led Australia to victory once more in 2003 and continues to carry a number of Australian Davis Cup information together with most wins, most particular person wins, most matches performed and most years performed.
No marvel the proud Australian was requested to steer the group himself in 2016.
“There was one thing particular about that competitors for me. Tennis is a person sport for a number of months of the yr, and I believe that is why the Davis Cup is so essential to me.
My manner was to play soccer however in tennis. “You stand shoulder to shoulder together with your teammates, your captain, and your coach, and you are preventing a battle for one thing extra essential than simply your self.”
Particular contact with Darren Cahill
Sporting the newly gifted ITFH jacket, he thanked his superior coach Darren Cahill, who wrote a column on the essential second when 12-year-old Lleyton Hewitt knocked on his door.
Each from Adelaide, Cahill remembers the steel-eyed Hewitt asking, “Hey, I am Leighton, lets play?” Cahill coined salutation To Hewitt in his ATP column, “My View,” on participant evolution.
“Rattling, this child is sweet. Cahill remembers telling his girlfriend (now spouse) on the time. “It was such a uncommon day once you simply know.”
An incredible tennis participant who put every little thing on the court docket when he performed
“The Corridor of Fame appeared prefer it was a good distance from me,” Hewitt mentioned through the ceremony.
“It was by no means one thing I’d ever consider as a participant, and I had at all times considered folks being the idols that grew up and absolutely the legends of the game. “It has been an unimaginable expertise for me, all of the buildup over the previous two years, however particularly this weekend.
I believe it is extremely becoming that right here in Newport be recruited in such a particular place.”
Hewitt nonetheless holds the ATP file because the youngest No. 1 at age 20, the identical yr he defeated ‘Pistol’ Pete Sampras in straight units in 2001 in america.
Last unlock. Hewitt retained his highest rating the next yr with the assistance of a dominant victory over David Nalbandian within the 2002 Wimbledon closing.
“I gave one hundred pc each time I walked into court docket,” Hewitt mentioned.
“And it wasn’t simply the match pitch – it was the coaching floor as nicely.”
The fierce contender gained 616 matches, 30 singles titles, three doubles titles, and back-to-back ATP Tour Finals in 2001-2002.
Lleyton Hewitt is now a member of the Worldwide Tennis Corridor of Fame, the place memorabilia such because the Davis Cup jacket and racquet are on show within the museum.