- Hall of Fame Announces Initiatives for Black History Month, Featuring Althea Gibson
- Roland Garros Unveils 2023 Official Poster Art
- 2023 Australian Open Sets Grand Slam Attendance Record
- Djokovic on track to play U.S. Open, but out of Indian Wells and Miami
- Emma Raducanu Joins Austin Field
- Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer Congratulate Novak Djokovic on 10th Australian Open Title
- Post-Australian Open ATP rankings: Djokovic back to No. 1, Paul and Shelton make major moves
- Novak Djokovic Tops Stefanos Tsitsipas for 10th Australian Open Title, 22nd Grand Slam
- Noah Rubin’s “Behind The Racquet” with Marion Bartoli • Tennis | 10sBalls
- Aryna Sabalenka Edges Elena Rybakina in Dramatic Australian Open Final
- Ricky’s preview and pick for the Australian Open final: Djokovic vs. Tsitsipas
- Djokovic, Tsitsipas set up showdown for No. 1 in Australian Open final
- David Nainkin to Serve as Interim Captain for U.S. Davis Cup Team’s Qualifying tie vs. Uzbekistan
- Stefanos Tsitsipas Tops Karen Khachanov For First Australian Open Final
- Australian Open Draws and Schedule for January 28, 2023
Lleyton Hewitt Coming Out Of Retirement To Team Up With Sam Groth For 2018 Australian Open Dubs
- Updated: December 14, 2017

Australia’s team captain Lleighton Hewitt reacts during the second singles match for the Davis Cup World Group semifinal between Belgium and Australia, in Brussels, Belgium, 15 September 2017. EPA-EFE/STEPHANIE LECOCQ
Hewitt coming out of retirement to team up with Groth for Australian Open doubles
By Ricky Dimon
Lleyton Hewitt ending his retirement–again–to play doubles at next month’s Australian Open, he announced on Thursday. Hewitt is partnering fellow Australian Sam Groth, who is approaching his own retirement that will coming following the first major of 2018.
Hewitt last played in 2016, when he retired from singles following the Aussie Open but returned for doubles duty in Davis Cup and at Wimbledon. Now 36 years old, the two-time Grand Slam singles champion, lost a five-set Davis Cup rubber with John Peers against Americans Bob and Mike Bryan, won his Wimbledon first-rounder with Jordan Thompson 19-17 in the third set, and then fell to defending Wimbledon champions Jack Sock and Vasek Pospisil. Hewitt has not played since, but he remains extremely active in tennis as Australia’s Davis Cup captain and part-time coach of various Australian players.
“It’s going to be a bit of fun–that’s what the Australian Open is about,” the former singles world No. 1 assured. “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.”
“It’s something Lleyton and I have talked about and it’s perfect for me,” Groth added. “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.”
It is worth pointing out that Hewitt has not officially submitted retirement papers to the International Tennis Federation, which is why he will be able to play Down Under.
In 2014, Andy Roddick asked U.S. Open tournament organizers for a wild card to play doubles with fellow American Mardy Fish. The 2003 U.S. Open singles champion, though, officially retired in 2012 and was therefore not allowed to play on such short notice. Roddick, who asked for the wild card more than a month in advance, was not in the ITF’s drug-testing program three months prior to playing, as is the rule.
Hewitt, because he has not officially filed those papers, has remained in the drug-testing protocol.