Hewitt To Be Inducted Into International Tennis Hall Of Fame

[Mainad]

"Former World No. 1 and two-time major champion Lleyton Hewitt will be inducted to the International Tennis Hall of Fame this year.

Hewitt, who amassed 30 tour-level singles titles during his 18-year career on the ATP Tour, will be inducted in the Player Category. In addition to being elected by the Hall of Fame's Official Voting Group of media, historians, and Hall of Famers, Hewitt also came in first place in the Hall of Fame’s Fan Voting, a global vote among a ballot of five candidates which took place late in 2020."

"The Induction Ceremony for the Class of 2021 is scheduled to be held at the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, R.I. on Saturday, 17 July, 2021. The 2020 ceremony was cancelled due to Covid-19, and therefore the induction ceremony will also honor Class of 2020 inductees Goran Ivanisevic and Conchita Martinez."

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/hewitt-international-tennis-hall-of-fame-2021-induction

 

[Cashman]

Predictable

 

[tonylg]

Predictable

And deserved. He won more Davis Cup matches than any other Australian (and that's a pretty good list). Pretty sure the Hall of Fame still falls under ITF, doesn't it?

 

[Tshooter]

One Hewitt out, one Hewitt in.

 

[recreationalplayer]

This class also includes Dennis Van Der Meer. Fonder of VDM Tennis at Hilton Head Island. "The greatest teacher ever transformed how the sport is taught, and influenced millions of players around the world. " (Tennis.com) A great man and teacher who helped bring the game of tennis to everyone, his is an endearing and eternal legacy.

 

[Phoenix1983]

Well deserved.

 

[Robert F]

Hewitt earned it.
In 15-20 years after they induct Fed/Djoker and Nadal, will there be a giant vacuum? Does Del Potro or Cilic get a nod?
I guess Murray and Stan will be in.

Will guys like Medvedev and Anderson get a nod? With the props of making a GS singles final???

The women will have tons of single slam winners to choose from.

 

[Enceladus]

 

[BGod]

Hewitt earned it.
In 15-20 years after they induct Fed/Djoker and Nadal, will there be a giant vacuum? Does Del Potro or Cilic get a nod?
I guess Murray and Stan will be in.

Will guys like Medvedev and Anderson get a nod? With the props of making a GS singles final???

The women will have tons of single slam winners to choose from.

The bolded are locks. Won a Slam, made at least 1 more Final, both with a Masters title. del Potro has some pluses over Cilic and vice versa so I can't say one's career is definitively better than the others.

Cannot see a slam finalist alone getting in unless it's a complete anomaly with like at least 3 finals and they were all competitive. Think an Andy Roddick if he loses that 2003 USO to Nalbandian (which he should have, like literally with the line call) still making the 4 finals losing to Federer. He'd still get in but unlikely scenario unless Medvedev goes out there and does that.

 

[Third Serve]

Good to see

 

[Phoenix1983]

It's taken a while for Goran to get in!

 

[Robert F]

Too long!

 

[Tshooter]

It's taken a while for Goran to get in!

Background check.

 

[Slasher]

Hewitt only won because of a slump in the quality of his opponents when he won most of his titles.

When the quality of his opponents improved, he was nowhere near being in the same class.

Even so, he only won about 70% of his tour matches.

Hewitt doesn't deserve to be in the hall of fame as it dilutes the quality, the pedigree and the credibility of the previous hall of fame inductees.

 

[Slasher]

American tennis player Michael Russell has called former Wimbledon Champion Lleyton Hewitt a racist and a ****** bag in a shocking outburst on his Facebook page, after losing in the semi-finals of the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships in Rhode Island.

According to the Courier Mail, despite finishing his match with Mahut hours beforehand, the American slammed Hewitt for blaming fatigue and a tough draw for his loss, saying Hewitt should stop making excuses.

The report said that Russell would have loved to see Hewitt play in the final with Mahut because he wanted to see which kind of excuses the Australian was making.

The irony of having a "racist ****** bag" who lost in the semi finals of the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships inducted into the Hall of Fame - priceless.

 

[Tshooter]

Hewitt only won because of a slump in the quality of his opponents when he won most of his titles.

When the quality of his opponents improved, he was nowhere near being in the same class.

Even so, he only won about 70% of his tour matches.

Hewitt doesn't deserve to be in the hall of fame as it dilutes the quality, the pedigree and the credibility of the previous hall of fame inductees.

I agree Hewitt was arguably a transitional era champion but he gets in for me easily on tennis results. His blowout, upset USO win over Pete. (And Pete while slumping in 2001 was playing well at the USO and wasn’t exactly done after; he won the USO a year later.). Hewitt followed the win 10 months later by winning W. He has many other accomplishments too, among them, 80 weeks at #1, youngest #1 and youngest year end #1.

 

[Slasher]

Lleyton Hewitt is the "dumbest" ever Wimbledon winner, the 1949 champion Ted Schroeder has said.

"Hewitt may not be the worst-ever Wimbledon champion but he is certainly the dumbest," said American Schroeder, 82.

"He has no idea how to get out of a scrape or change his tactics to suit the conditions.

"He just continues to hit the ball as hard as he can.

"And what can be more dumb than that?"

Seems like an ideal candidate to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

 

[Tshooter]

American tennis player Michael Russell has called former Wimbledon Champion Lleyton Hewitt a racist and a ****** bag in a shocking outburst on his Facebook page, ...

What is your intent in posting this garbage ? No context. No pointing out Russell disowned the Facebook post made over 7 years ago which he said was not made by him or with his knowledge. And for which he apologized to Hewitt.

 

[Slasher]

We believe him because we're gullible and we want to take back and disown what we typed after lawyers for Hewitt threatened defamation, slander and libel.

 

[Tshooter]

We believe him because we're gullible and we want to take back and disown what we typed after lawyers for Hewitt threatened defamation, slander and libel.

It doesn’t matter whether Joyce posted it or not. He isn’t standing behind the statement. So HOF can’t use the statement to impugn Hewitt. Assuming the HOF came across it doing some kind of character assessment and further assuming they cared about Joyce’s opinion of Hewitt’s character they couldn’t rely on the statement when the player making it won’t stand behind it.

We won’t vote you in. Why. Because we found a statement made seven years ago by a player on social media (a very deliberative medium where no one ever speaks in anger and/or out of their arse) that says you are a racist DB. We should mention that the player says he didn’t say it but we not only think his opinion should determine the matter of your HOF election we think his opinion is something other then he said it is.

 

[Slasher]

Of course it matters if Joyce posted it or not.



What did Joyce post?



He should have sent it by fax or telegram.

 

[Tshooter]

Of course it matters if Joyce posted it or not.



What did Joyce post?



He should have sent it by fax or telegram.

Do you do appellate work for Jenna Ellis ?

 

[Slasher]

Do you use Sorbent?

 

[Tshooter]

Do you use Sorbent?

I’m not cleaning up.

Maybe after the B. Hewitt debacle the HOF should appoint a person/group to play devil’s advocate (you interested ?) and make the case against HOF nominees. But then make one explicitly, not by inference.

Let’s assume Joyce sent his words by certified mail and they accurately reflected his opinion at the time. Why is this one player’s opinion apparently determinative to you on HOF election ? Does Joyce have to at least explain the basis for his opinion ? He doesn‘t have to stand by it you suggested which makes explaining it problematic. So without putting words in your mouth is that the entirety of the case against L. Hewitt. That you believe Michael Joyce has a negative opinion of L.Hewitt’s character which Joyce is apparently afraid to articulate for legal reasons ? Is there something else ?

The Schroeder quote reads to me as more an insult than a serious point against HOF election and, in any case, the ”dumb” play record will speak for itself.

 

[Slasher]

Are we also presuming Joyce's very hand armed with indelible ink was put to Sorbent to write such words about Hewitt inside a security shielded envelope lined with foil without any trace of his DNA?

Of course Joyce needs to write a referenced dissertation. I would accept no less. The source matters. He must justify his conclusions.

 

[Tshooter]

Are we also presuming Joyce's very hand armed with indelible ink was put to Sorbent to write such words about Hewitt inside a security shielded envelope lined with foil without any trace of his DNA?

I thought you might have been serious. My mistake. I’ll see you in the next thread.

 

[Slasher]

I thought you might have been serious. My mistake.

A penny for your thoughts.

Not your only mistake.

You meyke wan velly beeeeeg impoltant mithtek.

 

[clout]

He was pretty much the ultimate transitional player who made the most during a rare few years of parity in men’s tennis as most of his achievements came during 01-02 exactly in between Sampras/Agassi and Federer/Nadal’s reigns.

Nonetheless, you still gotta win your matches and he maximized it and as a result, this is a well deserved induction.

 

[clout]

Also, this begs the question, what active players are going into the hall?

Fed, Nadal and Djoker should be inducted to the HOF the second they retire like what the NHL did with Gretzky.

Murray is unquestionably a hall of famer and so is Stan with 3 majors. Del Potro is probably going in as well as there’s a high chance the voters like him and despite limited play time, his achievements are still nothing to scoff at.

Thiem given the pace he’s on should be a solid lock for the hall, especially if he grabs a second major.

Some of the next gen guys will eventually make their ways there too tbh. Once the big 3 leave someone’s gotta win those big titles and that’s when players like Stefanos, Zverev, Med, Sinner, Shapo, etc. will come in

 

[Red Rick]

Hewitt earned it.
In 15-20 years after they induct Fed/Djoker and Nadal, will there be a giant vacuum? Does Del Potro or Cilic get a nod?
I guess Murray and Stan will be in.

Will guys like Medvedev and Anderson get a nod? With the props of making a GS singles final???

The women will have tons of single slam winners to choose from.

Just go on lockdown after the Big 4 get in. I'm assuming Wawa, Cilic and Delpo will retire before Djokovic anyway

 

[Enceladus]

Also, this begs the question, what active players are going into the hall?

Fed, Nadal and Djoker should be inducted to the HOF the second they retire like what the NHL did with Gretzky.

Murray is unquestionably a hall of famer and so is Stan with 3 majors. Del Potro is probably going in as well as there’s a high chance the voters like him and despite limited play time, his achievements are still nothing to scoff at.

Thiem given the pace he’s on should be a solid lock for the hall, especially if he grabs a second major.

Some of the next gen guys will eventually make their ways there too tbh. Once the big 3 leave someone’s gotta win those big titles and that’s when players like Stefanos, Zverev, Med, Sinner, Shapo, etc. will come in

This will not happen unless the rules change. They will have to wait 5 years before being accepted into THOF. Sampras, Agassi or Graf had to wait 5 years after end of their careers at enter into THOF.

 

[STRONGSTYLE]

American tennis player Michael Russell has called former Wimbledon Champion Lleyton Hewitt a racist and a ****** bag in a shocking outburst on his Facebook page, after losing in the semi-finals of the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships in Rhode Island.

According to the Courier Mail, despite finishing his match with Mahut hours beforehand, the American slammed Hewitt for blaming fatigue and a tough draw for his loss, saying Hewitt should stop making excuses.

The report said that Russell would have loved to see Hewitt play in the final with Mahut because he wanted to see which kind of excuses the Australian was making.

The irony of having a "racist ****** bag" who lost in the semi finals of the Hall of Fame Tennis Championships inducted into the Hall of Fame - priceless.

Where is the racist part?

 

[Slasher]

After being foot faulted twice by a black linesman on crucial points in the third set, Hewitt was accused of dragging race into the situation by suggesting the similarity in skin colour of Blake and the official was playing a part in the decision to penalise him.

"Look at him (the linesman) and tell me what the similarity is (with Blake)," Hewitt said. "I want him off the court. I've only been foot-faulted at one end. Look at what he's done." said Hewitt on court at the US Open.

 

[Jason Swerve]

After being foot faulted twice by a black linesman on crucial points in the third set, Hewitt was accused of dragging race into the situation by suggesting the similarity in skin colour of Blake and the official was playing a part in the decision to penalise him.

"Look at him (the linesman) and tell me what the similarity is (with Blake)," Hewitt said. "I want him off the court. I've only been foot-faulted at one end. Look at what he's done." said Hewitt on court at the US Open.

Took the words right from me. Had to check and make sure Hingis wasn't still on that committee.

Come on, Gigi and Todd Martin. You're better than this.

 

[Dan Lobb]

One Hewitt out, one Hewitt in.

Not sure how the first Hewitt got in. Doubles only? They should make a separate category for doubles teams. I think that you should win at least one Wimbledon or two U.S. titles to get in as a singles player.

 

[jussumman]

Hewitt earned it.
In 15-20 years after they induct Fed/Djoker and Nadal, will there be a giant vacuum? Does Del Potro or Cilic get a nod?
I guess Murray and Stan will be in.

Will guys like Medvedev and Anderson get a nod? With the props of making a GS singles final???

The women will have tons of single slam winners to choose from.

Do they have to have someone each year? Seems like underserving players might get in.

 

[Robert F]

I don't think they have to, but imagine if you didn't induct anyone for 5-10 years from the recent era?
I think there is some community pressure and institutional pressure to add inductees. I think they need the names to support the organization.

 

[BGod]

I don't think they have to, but imagine if you didn't induct anyone for 5-10 years from the recent era?
I think there is some community pressure and institutional pressure to add inductees. I think they need the names to support the organization.

The biggest problem is going to be retirement years. Like if Big 5 members retire same seasons. Cause they won't be making any of them wait. The other question is having singular inductees kinda makes the ceremony a bit of a joke. And yes, the Hall is already diluted and they've sent precedents where I can see enough inductees lined up. Just to give example:

Big 5
del Potro
Cilic
Williams Sisters
Halep
Kerber
Azarenak
Muguruza
Kvitova
Stosur

Sharapova & Wozniaki on the docket already.

That's potentially 8-10 years of inductees, I mean maybe Pennetta for the women and for the men you still have Bruegera, Ferrero & Bjorkman (doubles). So it will be tight but next 10 years worth of inductees looks set. The real B is going to be the 2030s.

 

[Gizo]

Del Potro and Cilic's Davis Cup heroics / wins will ensure that they both get in. Then again Ferrero was also a grand slam winner and Davis Cup champion, but also a world no. 1, so hopefully it's not too long until he gets in.

Over the years, I've personally never understood the issue with (or sometimes outrage at) 1 time grand slam winners in singles (who have had numerous other impressive feats as well) getting inducted into the hall of fame.

They are very much part of the elite, as they've achieved a much better career than over 99.99% of players that have ever turned pro. It can be easy to lose perspective, especially when we see players like Federer, Nadal, Djokovic and Serena in modern times racking up slam titles for fun, and not understand just how difficult and impressive it is to win a grand slam title, reach world no. 1 or 2, win numerous other big titles, a Davis Cup etc. I mean I've seen ridiculous comments in the past saying that the likes of Roddick had a 'mediocre career'. Since the computer rankings were introduced, only 25 men have both won a grand slam title and become world no. 1 in singles, out of god knows how many players that have tried to forge a pro career.

 

[Deleted member 771911]

Hewitt never got much love so a day in the spotlight with everyone appreciating him might be nice for him.

 

[Sunny014]

I guess Sergei Bruguera is a glaring omission in this list.

He should be there in the hall of fame.

 

[Dan Lobb]

I agree Hewitt was arguably a transitional era champion but he gets in for me easily on tennis results. His blowout, upset USO win over Pete. (And Pete while slumping in 2001 was playing well at the USO and wasn’t exactly done after; he won the USO a year later.). Hewitt followed the win 10 months later by winning W. He has many other accomplishments too, among them, 80 weeks at #1, youngest #1 and youngest year end #1.

Youngest in the ATP era, not all-time.