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Lleyton Hewitt Will Play ATP Newport Event In July
12 Comments · Posted by Scoop Malinowski in Articles, Scoop
Australian tennis great and former world No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt joins an exciting and growing field for the Campbell’s Hall of Fame Tennis Championships- the only ATP World Tour event on grass courts outside of Europe. In addition to Hewitt, committed players include defending champion and world No. 11 John Isner, world No. 1 doubles team The Bryan Brothers, and rising star Milos Raonic.
NEWPORT, R.I., April 3, 2012 – Former world No. 1 and two-time Grand Slam tournament champion Lleyton Hewitt has committed to play in the Campbell’s Hall of Fame Tennis Championships, to be hosted July 9 – 15, 2012 on the historic grass courts of the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island. After more than a decade on the pro tour, Hewitt’s feisty playing style has kept him as one of the most exciting players to follow. Hewitt was ranked world No. 1 for a total of 80 weeks, and he has finished the season in the top-25 ten times in eleven years (1999 – 2009). In addition to his two major titles, Hewitt won two Tennis Masters Cup titles (2001, 2002), and he captured at least one title each season from 1998 – 2010, with the exception of 2008, for a total of 28 singles titles and two doubles titles to date.
“With his tenacity on court and aggressive playing style, Lleyton always brings a great energy to a tournament. We look forward to welcoming him back to Newport for what is sure to be a great week,” said Tournament Director Mark L. Stenning.
This will be Hewitt’s second appearance in Newport, where he made it to the second round in 1998- after one of his earliest match wins on the ATP World Tour. Hewitt joins a dynamic and growing field for Newport, which is the only tournament on grass courts in North or South America, and offers the only opportunity to see men’s pro tennis in the Northeast before the US Open. The event is hosted immediately after Wimbledon and precedes the summer Olympics, which will also be played on grass courts. In addition to Hewitt, players slated to compete in Newport include the tournament’s defending champion John Isner, currently ranked world No. 11; the record-setting, world No. 1 doubles team, the Bryan Brothers; and rising star Milos Raonic, currently ranked world No. 26. Tickets for the tournament are on sale now on tennisfame.com or by calling 866-914-FAME (3263).
After playing Australian Rules football for most of his childhood, Hewitt began to focus on tennis at the age of 13. Just two years later, he became the youngest qualifier in the history of the Australian Open in 1997 at age 15. He won the first of his 28 ATP World Tour singles titles the following year at Adelaide at 16 years, 10 months old, making him the youngest winner on Tour since Michael Chang in 1988.
In 2001, at the age of 20 years, 8 months Hewitt became the youngest player in the history of the ATP World Tour rankings to finish world No. 1, and he was the first Australian to do so. En route to this feat, he won a career-best six titles that season, including the Tennis Master Cup and the US Open, where he defeated Pete Sampras. The following year, Hewitt held the No. 1 ranking every week of the season, and defeated Tim Henman to capture the Wimbledon title.
Hewitt has been an integral part of Australia’s Davis Cup team throughout his career, having been part of the team that won the title in 1999 and 2003 and the teams that reached the final in 2000 and 2001. By the age of 22, he had recorded more wins in Davis Cup singles than any other Australian player, and he currently has a 49/14 record in singles and doubles. Although injured this week, Hewitt will play a mentoring role for the Australian team as they face South Korea in Davis Cup play.
For additional information and to order tickets, please call the Tournament Office at 401-849-6053 or 866-914-FAME (3263) or visit www.tennisfame.com.
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About the Campbell’s Hall of Fame Tennis Championships
The Campbell’s Hall of Fame Tennis Championships, an ATP World Tour event, will be held July 9 – 15, 2012 at the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum in Newport, Rhode Island. The tournament draws 32 top male players to Newport direct from Wimbledon to compete for the Van Alen Cup and nearly $400,000 in prize money. Hosted on the legendary grass courts of the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum, the Campbell’s Hall of Fame Tennis Championships is the only ATP World Tour event played on grass in the Americas. In addition to exciting pro tennis, the week features numerous special events ranging from tennis clinics and family activities to the Angela Moore Fashion Show. A highlight of the week will be the Class of 2012 Induction Ceremony on July 14. For additional information, visit www.tennisfame.com.
Bryans will also play Newport · Isner · Raonic
Scoop Malinowski · April 3, 2012 at 4:03 pm
Wow, this is exciting news, that we will see Hewitt up close at the intimate courts of Newport. With Isner, Raonic, Hewitt this is stacking up to being perhaps the best Newport draw in the tournament’s rich history. I’ll be there for the fourth year in a row for sure. And I know Andy Kentla my photographer friend from Chicago will be there for the 19th time in 20 years.
Dan Markowitz · April 4, 2012 at 9:03 am
I will be there, too. Newport is unique, college town, tourist town, but really beautiful beaches and a real New England feel to it.
Not good sign for Hewitt that he’s playing Newport. Usually, the European/Australian pros play it either at beginning of careers–Murray–or at the end–Phillipousis, Santoro. I’ve been wondering where Hewitt has been in IW and Miami.
Mitch · April 4, 2012 at 11:29 am
I think he just had another surgery.
Steve · April 4, 2012 at 11:48 am
I love Hewitt’s heart, his fight. Him taking out the young Canadian, Milos Raonic, at the Aussie this year was sweet.
I noticed even when he loses he usually takes a set. Many of my tennis buddies dislike him but they don’t get it. It’s called INTENSITY.
He is a member of the great triumvirate of fighters: Connors, Nadal, Hewitt.
Hewitt should coach Gasquet ASAP.
Scoop Malinowski · April 4, 2012 at 11:48 am
He had some kind of, I believe, foot surgery this time. He’s not going to play the Davis Cup tie this weekend vs. Korea but will be there supporting the team.
Scoop Malinowski · April 4, 2012 at 1:39 pm
Hewitt is still one of the great fighters in tennis Steve, I’ve always respected his tenacity as well and still enjoy to watch some old videos of him during his heyday. If Gasquet had half of Hewitt’s competitive fire, he’d be a lot more successful but Gasquet seems incapable of playing with passion or emotional adrenaline, he just plays his flatline beautiful tennis and rarely uses or shows emotions. I don’t think Hewitt could teach him to either, it’s just not his nature.
Steve · April 4, 2012 at 1:50 pm
I think everyone has a fight or flight instinct so I think there’s a way to get to Gasquet’s. It may be through putting different scenarios in his mind. Maybe even playing with hatred. 🙂
Scoop Malinowski · April 4, 2012 at 4:44 pm
Maybe Steve. But maybe Gasquet is fighting in his own way and he disguises it. Like Sampras did. If Sampras’ serve were 20 MPH less and less accurate and his ranking were around 10 in the world all those years and not #1, he’d have had more parallel results with Gasquet.
Steve · April 4, 2012 at 6:26 pm
Wow. I disagree. Sampras had the ideal mind set which you can’t teach which is ice water in the veins and total belief you can make the shot in crunch time and look forward to it. Also, once in the lead Sampras didn’t feel bad about it.
Sampras’ calm sniper-like confidence through most of his career is one a million. At the end he seemed agitated by the press and he finally showed some stress on the court.
Steve · April 4, 2012 at 6:35 pm
Yes, Gasquet tries, for sure but he doesn’t have the killer instinct. He looks sheepish and feels bad when taking a set off other top guys. He’s too nice, probably. 🙂 He doesn’t have to become Connors but a little urgency, intensity and killer instinct on the court is absolutely possible for him, IMHO. I will continue to watch and root for him and hope for the best.
Dan Markowitz · April 4, 2012 at 6:45 pm
Gasquet is like Sampras if Sampras didn’t have his serve firepower, geez, that’s bologna. Sampras was a cold-blooded killer, he won a major at 19. Sampras was bred to be a winner. I don’t know what Gasquet was bred to be. I think he was bolder earlier in his career, and he’s made a nice comeback, but from the big early expectations to the cocaine suspension, he’s had a tough go of it.
Trivia Question:
We know Leander Paes won a career doubles Grand Slam with the Aussie Open victory. By doing so, he became one of three men to win the men’s double GS with a different partner at every slam. Who are the other two men who have done this feat?
Scoop Malinowski · April 4, 2012 at 7:46 pm
Did not mean to diminish Pete in any way, yes of course he has the mind of a champion, an uncanny desire to win and get the job done unlike Gasquet who seems more like a great tennis player, while Pete was a great tennis champion.