It was worth the wait: 2001 US Open champion Lleyton Hewitt finally achieved tennis immortality on Saturday in Newport, R.I. with his induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Officially tabbed for enshrinement in 2021, Hewitt's ceremony was postponed 12 months as a result of the COVID-19 related travel restrictions in his native Australia.
Hewitt began his induction speech Saturday night by thanking the International Tennis Hall of Fame for postponing his induction so his entire familty could attend the festivities, and also recognized the Original 9 and famed coach Dennis van der Meer, with whom he is in the class of 2021.
"The Hall of Fame seemed like something that was so far away from me ever being a part of," Hewitt said. "It was never something I ever thought about as a player, and it was always my thought [that it was] for the people that were my idols growing up and the absolute legends of the sport.
"This is an incredible honor for me. I know it wasn't ideal the last couple of years due to the pandemic, but for me, it's made it all the more special that I've been able to have my family and friends here on this occasion and really soak up the atmosphere."
One of just 11 men to hold the ATP world No. 1 ranking this century, Hewitt won two Grand Slams and 30 singles titles in his nearly two full decades on tour; he finished both 2001 and 2002 as the world's top player, and spent 80 weeks at world No. 1 in all. In addition to winning the 2001 US Open, Hewitt also triumphed at Wimbledon a year later.
A precocious talent since he qualified for his first Australian Open aged 15 years, 11 months in 1997—making him the youngest man to qualify in Melbourne in the Open Era—Hewitt first reached the top spot at 20 years and 9 months old, another youngest-ever ATP record. At 16 in 1998, and ranked No. 550, he beat five tour veterans—including a returning Andre Agassi in the semifinals—and became the lowest-ranked title-winner in ATP history.
His 80 weeks at world No. 1 ranks 10th all-time in ATP history since the tour's computerized rankings began in 1973.
Hewitt reached four Grand Slam singles finals total in his career, as he was also runner-up at the 2004 US Open and 2005 Australian Open. As a team player, he won the 2000 US Open men's doubles title with Max Mirnyi, and helped Australia win the Davis Cup in 1999 and 2003. He won his last ATP title at Newport in 2014, and played his 15th, and final, US Open a year later, where he lost in Round 2 to fellow Aussie Bernard Tomic in a classic five-setter.
Hewitt's enshrinement moment was similarly full-circle: He got the call from Hall of Fame president Stan Smith that he was nominated for the Hall of Fame while he was watching his oldest son, Cruz, compete in an under-12 junior tennis event in Australia, and needed to excuse himself from his courtside position to chat.
"It was kind of a funny moment. ... This is where it all began for me, on junior tennis courts in the middle of nowhere in Adelaide in Australia, with nobody watching, no TV cameras," Hewitt said.
"I feel fortunate that I was able to play across different generations; that I was able to be on the same court as my heroes that I looked up to, like Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras, and then go on to compete against three of the greatest players our sport has ever seen in Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.
“I just want to thank all the past Hall of Famers for being here this weekend. It wouldn't be the same if you guys weren't here and I didn't have people to look up to that had done it before me, as well. It's been an unbelievable experience for me, the whole buildup the last couple of years, but especially this weekend. I think it's so fitting for me to be inducted here in Newport at such a special place.”
