Lleyton Hewitt comes out of retirement for Australian Open
Australia’s Davis Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt has come out of retirement for the 2018 Australian Open and the former world number 1 is determined “to give it a fair crack.”
Hewitt, 36, will team up with Sam Groth in the doubles, who says partnering with the former Wimbledon champion and at his home country’s slam will be the perfect way to retire from the sport.
Groth also hopes to play singles and mixed doubles, the latter with former US Open winner Sam Stosur.
“It’s something Lleyton and I have talked about and it’s perfect for me,” Groth, 30, said.
“I was there when ‘Rusty’ retired in 2016 and it’s great that he’ll be there with me when I bow out.
“He’s not just someone I know through tennis, he’s a great mate.”
Although Hewitt retired in 2016, he has remained heavily involved in tennis, re-emerging from retirement in Davis Cup against the US.
Partnering with John Peers in doubles, they almost upset the Bob and Mike Bryan in an epic five-setter.
Hewitt said of his latest comeback: “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’s return means he will have just missed one Australian Open in 22 tournaments, having made his debut in 1997 aged 15.
The Australian Open begins in Melbourne on Monday January 15, 2018.