Lleyton Hewitt isn’t playing professional tennis anymore, but he’s still working in the sport. That means he has to follow certain rules.
The Australian legend was once the world’s No. 1 player and won two Grand Slam singles titles. He hung up his racket in singles back in 2016 and played his final doubles match in 2020.
It didn’t take long for Hewitt to find his next role in tennis.
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He became Australia’s Davis Cup captain right after ending his singles career and has been leading the team ever since. Just recently, Australia beat Sweden 3-1 in the first round of the 2025 Davis Cup Qualifiers with the 44-year-old calling the shots from the sideline.
A Frustrating Loss in Spain
Before that tie, Australia had played in the 2024 Finals. They knocked out the USA in the quarter-finals but then lost 0-2 to Italy.
Matteo Berrettini beat Thanasi Kokkinakis in an epic three-setter. Then Jannik Sinner outplayed Alex de Minaur to seal the deal for Italy.
The match took place at the Martin Carpena Arena in Malaga, Spain, on November 23rd. That’s also the day when Hewitt did something that really doesn’t belong in professional sports.
After Australia’s disappointing loss to Italy, the team captain was probably pretty frustrated. He pushed a 60-year-old volunteer anti-doping official.
The incident was officially noted as "offensive conduct towards a doping control official." Hewitt initially denied the accusations, claiming it was self-defense.
Investigation and Hearing
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) wasn’t messing around. They reviewed available video footage and interviewed witnesses.
The case went to an independent tribunal, convened by Sport Resolutions and chaired by Michael Heron KC.
Hewitt’s hearing took place in Sydney on July 21st and 22nd. There were also two additional online sessions scheduled for June 2nd and July 15th.
On August 4th, Michael Heron concluded that Hewitt’s behavior "did not meet the requirements of self-defence." He also stated that the team captain’s actions were "not reasonable and proportionate."
The Punishment
As a result of his conduct, Hewitt was hit with a two-week suspension and slapped with a hefty AU$30,000 fine.
Here’s where things get interesting though.
His two-week suspension could’ve been a real problem for Australia’s Davis Cup team. But the ITIA chose an effective date that won’t mess with the 44-year-old’s plans – which might raise some eyebrows.
Australia is set to play Belgium in the second round of the 2025 Davis Cup Qualifiers on September 12th and 13th. However, Hewitt’s suspension runs from September 24th until October 7th.
That means it won’t impact him as the country’s team captain at all.
Safety First
Karen Moorhouse, CEO of the ITIA, spoke about the case. She explained that ensuring personnel safety was their main goal, so they had to take action.
"Anti-doping personnel play a fundamental role behind the scenes in upholding the integrity of tennis, and they should be able to go about their roles without fear of physical contact. In this case, that line was clearly crossed, and we had no other option but to take action."
The incident serves as a reminder that even former champions aren’t above the rules. Whether the timing of Hewitt’s suspension sends the right message is another question entirely.
