Lleyton Hewitt shoves 60-year-old tennis volunteer but claims self-defence
Former Wimbledon champion Lleyton Hewitt has been hit with a two-week suspension from his duties as Australia’s Davis Cup captain after pushing a 60-year-old volunteer.
The incident – which was revealed on Wednesday – happened in the aftermath of Australia’s Davis Cup loss to Italy in Malaga last November, where the volunteer was a chaperone working on the anti-doping programme.
The volunteer’s job was to notify players of their anti-doping test requirements and to escort them to the testing site. But his work was interrupted by Hewitt, who has since claimed he was acting in self-defence.
According to sources with knowledge of the situation, a video of the incident shows Hewitt pushing the volunteer. Telegraph Sport understands that the 60-year-old man has said he no longer wishes to volunteer for similar duties in future.
Hewitt, who is 44, has served as Australia’s Davis Cup captain since 2016 after a stellar playing career during which he won Wimbledon in 2002 and the US Open the previous year.
The process of responding to the incident has taken the best part of a year.
According to a statement from the International Tennis Integrity Agency, “Hewitt denied the charge – which was brought following review of video evidence, witness statements, and interviews – citing self-defence”.
The chairman of the independent tribunal, Michael Heron KC, ruled that “the charge of offensive conduct was upheld, stating that Hewitt’s actions ‘did not meet the requirements of self-defence’, and that his behaviour was ‘not reasonable and proportionate’.”
Heron handed out a two-week suspension, starting from September 24. According to the ITIA statement, “the timing has been arranged so as not to be ‘unduly punitive’ on Hewitt by impacting his Davis Cup schedule, and to provide the opportunity for an appeal to be lodged before the sanction enters into effect. To date, no appeal has been lodged”.
Hewitt is understood to have said that he planned to travel to various tournaments during that two-week period to mentor the Australian players – trips that he will now be unable to make.
However, the suspension has been timed so as not to coincide with Australia’s forthcoming Davis Cup match against Belgium, which is being staged at Sydney’s Ken Rosewall Arena this coming weekend.
Hewitt is due to face the media in Sydney on Friday as part of the regular pre-match build-up, and he is sure to be asked about the suspension. In the meantime, Telegraph Sport has contacted his representatives for comment.
