Lleyton Hewitt has become the latest player to join the Australian Tennis Hall of Fame as the former world number one received his special induction at the 2024 Australian Open.
Hewitt took to Rod Laver Arena to receive his Hall of Fame accolade alongside his family and was watched by several close friends. Many Australian greats also took in the spectacle, including Rod Laver, Margaret Court, and current Australian number one, Alex de Minaur - whom Hewitt has mentored in recent years.
The arena also holds special significance for Hewitt as the former player reached the Australian Open final in 2005 before losing to a then up-and-coming Rafael Nadal.
When addressing his induction on Rod Laver Court, Hewitt also explained some of the sentimental value of being back at the arena and what it means to him to join the Australian Tennis Hall of Fame.
“This is an unbelievable honour for me to think back where my journey started."
"As a 15-year-old, coming here and qualifying for the Australian Open for the first time, I always dreamt to just be able to play once here."
In 2016, Hewitt ended his tennis career, and he was recently inducted into the Tennis Hall of Fame for his accolades. Throughout his 18-year spell in tennis, the 42-year-old won the US Open, Wimbledon, two Davis Cup titles, and 30 other singles titles.
Also, the Australian great reached an impressive 20 consecutive Australian Open main draws after qualifying for his first at Melbourne Park as a 15-year-old qualifier in 1997.
Looking back on the achievement and his career, Hewitt explained his pride but also thanked those role models, like Laver, who inspired him.
"To end up playing 20 years in a row and now to get this incredible honour and be alongside all the greats that I looked up to in Australian tennis over so many years, a lot of those guys were like big brothers or even father figures to me out there."
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