Tennis Legend Stages Comeback For Family Dream
In a move that has captivated the tennis world, former world number one Lleyton Hewitt is returning to professional competition for a special reason: to share the court with his son. The Australian tennis great, who first retired in 2016, will make a stunning comeback to play doubles alongside his 16-year-old son, Cruz Hewitt, at next week's NSW Open.
Wildcard Entry For Historic Partnership
The father-son duo have been awarded a wildcard entry into the tournament, where they will face the Australian pairing of Hayden Jones and Pavle Marinkov. While this marks Lleyton's return to professional play, young Cruz will be pulling double duty, having also been entered into the singles draw at the same event.
Lleyton Hewitt's comeback follows his previous return to doubles in 2018 and his last professional appearance at the 2020 Australian Open, where he and countryman Jordan Thompson lost in the first round. The timing of this announcement is particularly poignant, coming just days after Hewitt was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame as one of seven new members on Monday night.
The AFL Path Not Taken
The comeback news has sparked memories of another potential career turn for Hewitt back in 2003. The tennis champion revealed he had seriously considered switching sports to play Australian Rules Football, with Port Adelaide coach and family friend Mark Williams making the approach.
Hewitt was born into Australian Rules football, with both his father and uncle having solid football careers. Growing up in Adelaide, he admitted "that was in my blood, that's what I wanted to do as a young kid." However, his parents convinced him to make the "bloody tough" decision to focus on tennis internationally.
By 2003, Hewitt had already achieved world number one status and won both the US Open and Wimbledon in 2001-02. After his Wimbledon title defence ended in the first round and he lost his top ranking, he contemplated what might come next.
"I grew up absolutely hating the Power, the Port Adelaide Magpies," Hewitt said of the potential move. "But at the time, I was actually considering it. I didn't love the contract and the money. He (Williams) ended up giving me a few weeks to think about it."
The Davis Cup Clincher
What ultimately kept Hewitt in tennis was one of his greatest career victories. His epic comeback from two sets down to beat Swiss great Roger Federer in the 2003 Davis Cup semi-final convinced him to remain in the sport he had dominated.
"It was one of my greatest victories and I called Choco (Williams) and said 'no'," Hewitt recalled, confirming the end of his AFL considerations. The idea of playing a pre-season game and potentially joining Port Adelaide as a rookie-listed player ultimately fizzled, meaning the keen Adelaide supporter never had to consider joining his team's fierce local rivals.
Now, nearly two decades later, Hewitt prepares for another significant moment in his tennis journey - this time sharing the professional stage with his teenage son, creating what promises to be an unforgettable chapter in Australian sporting history.
