Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Lleyton Hewitt out of retirement to make Australian Open return

The former world No 1 will be competing in the doubles at his home grand slam

Thursday 14 December 2017 14:19 GMT
Comments
The Australian will be competing alongside fellow countryman Sam Groth
The Australian will be competing alongside fellow countryman Sam Groth (GETTY IMAGES)

Lleyton Hewitt is coming out of retirement to play doubles at next month's Australian Open.

The former world No 1 officially called it quits after his home grand slam in 2016 but returned to the court twice more last year in Davis Cup and at Wimbledon.

Now he is making another appearance, this time alongside fellow Australian Sam Groth, for whom this will be the last tournament of his career.


 Lleyton Hewitt retired from the sport last year 
 (Getty)

Hewitt said in the Herald Sun: "It's going to be a bit of fun - that's what the Australian Open is about.

"I'm going to really enjoy it. We've been hitting a lot of balls, hitting every day, and we're not just going out there making up the numbers. We want to give it a fair crack."

Hewitt won grand slam singles titles at the US Open in 2001 and Wimbledon the following year, while he was also victorious in doubles at Flushing Meadows in 2000 partnering Max Mirnyi.

The 36-year-old is currently Australia's Davis Cup captain.

PA

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in