Lleyton Hewitt pushed a 60-year-old volunteer and got away with it, as he always does

3 days ago 9

Opinion

September 11, 2025 — 3.19pm

Lleyton Hewitt has gotten away with it for years.

Which is why he has again.

A protected species in Australian tennis, his often brattish ways on and off court as a player have continued in his coaching career. Albeit less frequently.

As Australia prepare to face Belgium in a Davis Cup tie at Ken Rosewall Arena this weekend, we’ve learnt Hewitt pushed a 60-year-old volunteer doping official against a wall after Australia lost a semi-final tie to Italy in Malaga, Spain, in November last year.

The volunteer has since walked away from his duties, which he performed for free. A thankless task but nonetheless a necessary one which allows players and coaches to compete and plunder millions on the world circuit. Year after year.

Hewitt, the 44-year-old, two-time grand slam winner, was given a two-week suspension and a $30,000 fine after being found guilty by an independent tribunal.

Australian Davis Cup Captain Lleyton Hewitt.

Amazingly, though, the tribunal delayed the suspension until after this weekend’s fixture because, as chair Michael Heron said, they did not want to be “unduly punitive” on Hewitt by affecting his Davis Cup schedule.

Well, why not? He pushed a 60-year-old volunteer.

Unforgivable behaviour anywhere – except in the world of tennis, because that’s how tennis rolls. Completely weak-kneed, bowing down at the altar of the unchecked stars.

Imagine what would happen if, say, Brad Scott pushed a 60-year-old doping official into a wall after an Essendon loss. There would be all hell to pay.

Imagine if Shane Flanagan did it after a Dragons loss. There would be all hell to pay.

The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) pushed for a heavier sanction against Hewitt, asking for a four-week suspension and a $US25,000 ($37,500) fine.

The tribunal instead imposed lighter penalties, despite finding “there was no apology or check on the wellbeing of the chaperone” and “a lack of remorse from Mr Hewitt”.

The ITIA also argued Hewitt had a “poor disciplinary record, including five prior incidents of offensive conduct toward tennis officials and non-compliance with tennis rules” and wanted that taken into account – as well as his conduct during the hearing, which it said had been “obstructive and inappropriate”.

Hewitt, for his part, argued his actions were self-defence, while there was some talk he’d been ill and was protecting himself from the older man. To that argument, the tribunal found his behaviour was “not reasonable, nor proportionate”.

There’s a reason Hewitt, and others in tennis, behave like this at times. It’s because they always have, and no-one’s ever done anything about it except hand out taps on the wrist.

Fining him $20,000 and banning him for a fortnight when there’s no tennis on is nothing. Banning him from a tie is a big deal.

He should have been banned from this tie and, when he wasn’t, Tennis Australia should have stepped him and rested him to set an example.

Full kudos to Hewitt for always being there for Australia over several decades on the Davis Cup stage. But if, in representing our nation, he thinks it’s OK to push semi-retired doping chaperones around, then it’s time for him to re-think his commitment to the cause.

On Thursday, he was still unremorseful and said he would talk to lawyers regarding the appeal process. Then he shut down questions about it.

One thing Hewitt has always done is demand respect. Yet it’s the one thing he can’t give to others. And it’s tennis that has allowed him to do that.