Lleyton Hewitt new ambassador for Sydney tournament

Written by: Global Chick on 20th September 2011

Lleyton Hewitt new ambassador for Sydney tournament

Australia's Lleyton Hewitt celebrates a point against Switzerland's Stanislas Wawrinka during their Davis Cup world group play-off in Sydney, 18 September 2011. EPA/DEAN LEWINS AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT, EDITORIAL USE ONLY |

Former World Number One Lleyton Hewitt announced he is the new Ambassador for the Sydney International Tournament played in January. The Wimbledon and US Open Champion has also confirmed he will participate in the event.

Hewitt is currently ranked No. 199 in the world. The Aussie is still recovering from a foot injury that also saw him pull out of the US Open. He represented Australia in the Davis Cup World Group playoffs against Switzerland on the weekend where he lost both his singles rubbers but he won the doubles teaming up with Chris Guccione.

The four-time Sydney International winner will work on the tournament’s Charity Pro-Am Event and the Kids’ Tennis Clinic that will be held in November. Hewitt didn’t play the tournament in 2011 instead he played in the exhibition event AAMI Classic at Kooyong in Melbourne.

“I’m really pleased to confirm my participation in the next year’s Sydney International. It is a special tournament for me and I have great memories from my four titles here,” Hewitt said.

The Hewitt camp approached the Sydney International Tournament Director Craig Watson to see if he could help to grow the event. “The Sydney International has such a great tradition and a long distinguished history and I would love to see it become even bigger and better in the years to come.”

Tournament Director Craig Watson is delighted to have Hewitt on board, “I really welcome Lleyton’s decision to not only play at the Sydney International next year but take on this important Ambassadorial role.”

Lleyton Hewitt won the men’s singles titles in 2000, 2001, 2004 and 2005.

In the next couple of weeks more player announcements will made.

The Event will take place at the Sydney Olympic Park Tennis Centre on January 8 to 14.