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Bob Hewitt

Summary

Robert Anthony John Hewitt (born 12 January 1940) is a former professional tennis player from Australia. In 1967, after marrying a South African, he became a South African citizen.[2] He has won 15 major titles and a career Grand Slam in both men's and mixed doubles.

Bob Hewitt
Bob Hewitt (1967)
Full nameRobert Anthony John Hewitt
Country (sports) Australia
 South Africa
ResidenceEastern Cape, South Africa
Born (1940-01-12) 12 January 1940 (age 84)
Dubbo, New South Wales, Australia
Height6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Turned pro1970 (amateur from 1958)
Retired1983
PlaysRight-handed (one-handed backhand)
Prize money$613,837 (Open era)
Int. Tennis HoF1992
Suspended in 2012
Expelled in 2016
Singles
Career record243–170 (Open era)
Career titles7
Highest rankingNo. 6 (1967, Lance Tingay)[1]
Grand Slam singles results
Australian OpenSF (1960, 1962, 1963)
French Open4R (1961, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1967)
WimbledonQF (1962, 1964, 1966)
US OpenQF (1967)
Other tournaments
Tour FinalsRR (1972)
Doubles
Career record481–124
Career titles65
Highest rankingNo. 1 (1 March 1976)
Grand Slam doubles results
Australian OpenW (1963, 1964)
French OpenW (1972)
WimbledonW (1962, 1964, 1967, 1972, 1978)
US OpenW (1977)
Other doubles tournaments
Tour FinalsW (1977)
Mixed doubles
Career titles6
Grand Slam mixed doubles results
Australian OpenW (1961)
French OpenW (1970, 1979)
WimbledonW (1977, 1979)
US OpenW (1979)
Team competitions
Davis CupW (1974)

In 2015, he was convicted of rape and sexual assault of girls he was coaching in the 1980s and 1990s; Hewitt was sentenced to six years in jail, and was subsequently expelled from the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

Early life edit

Hewitt was born and grew up in Dubbo, Australia, 400 kilometres west of Sydney.[3][4] In the 1970s, he and his South African wife Dalaille (née Nicholas) moved to Johannesburg, South Africa.[4][5][6][7] He is now a South African citizen.[2][8]

Career edit

Hewitt's most significant accomplishment was winning all Grand Slam doubles titles, both in men's and mixed doubles (US Open, Wimbledon, Australian Open and French Open),[2] and being central to South Africa's only Davis Cup title in 1974. This victory was controversial, as India boycotted the final on the orders of their government due to South Africa's apartheid policies and their effect on the ethnic Indian community of the country.

Hewitt achieved seven titles in singles and 65 in doubles.[2] He was ranked world No. 6 in 1967 by Lance Tingay of The Daily Telegraph.[2] In 1992, he was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame, but he was suspended from the Hall in 2012 and expelled in 2016 after his convictions of rape and sexual assault.[2][9][10]

Grand Slam doubles finals edit

Doubles (9 titles, 4 runner-ups) edit

Result Year Championship Partner Opponents Score
Loss 1961 Wimbledon   Fred Stolle   Roy Emerson
  Neale Fraser		 4–6, 8–6, 4–6, 8–6, 6–8
Loss 1962 Australian Championships   Fred Stolle   Roy Emerson
  Neale Fraser		 6–4, 6–4, 1–6, 4–6, 9–11
Win 1962 Wimbledon   Fred Stolle   Boro Jovanović
  Nikola Pilić		 6–2, 5–7, 6–2, 6–4
Win 1963 Australian Championships   Fred Stolle   Ken Fletcher
  John Newcombe		 6–2, 3–6, 6–3, 3–6, 6–3
Win 1964 Australian Championships   Fred Stolle   Roy Emerson
  Ken Fletcher		 6–4, 7–5, 3–6, 4–6, 14–12
Win 1964 Wimbledon (2)   Fred Stolle   Roy Emerson
  Ken Fletcher		 7–5, 11–9, 6–4
Loss 1965 French Championships   Ken Fletcher   Roy Emerson
  Fred Stolle		 8–6, 3–6, 6–8, 2–6
Loss 1965 Wimbledon   Ken Fletcher   John Newcombe
  Tony Roche		 5–7, 3–6, 4–6
Win 1967 Wimbledon (3)   Frew McMillan   Roy Emerson
  Ken Fletcher		 6–2, 6–3, 6–4
Win 1972 French Open   Frew McMillan   Patricio Cornejo
  Jaime Fillol		 6–3, 8–6, 3–6, 6–1
Win 1972 Wimbledon (4)   Frew McMillan   Stan Smith
  Erik van Dillen		 6–2, 6–2, 9–7
Win 1977 US Open   Frew McMillan   Brian Gottfried
  Raúl Ramírez		 6–4, 6–0
Winner 1978 Wimbledon (5)   Frew McMillan   Peter Fleming
  John McEnroe		 6–1, 6–4, 6–2

Mixed doubles (6 titles, 1 runner-up) edit

Result Year Championship Partner Opponents Score
Win 1961 Australian Championships   Jan Lehane O'Neill   Mary Carter Reitano
  John Pearce		 9–7, 6–2
Loss 1963 Wimbledon   Darlene Hard   Margaret Court
  Ken Fletcher		 9–11, 4–6
Win 1970 French Open   Billie Jean King   Françoise Dürr
  Jean-Claude Barclay		 3–6, 6–4, 6–2
Win 1977 Wimbledon   Greer Stevens   Betty Stöve
  Frew McMillan		 3–6, 7–5, 6–4
Win 1979 French Open (2)   Wendy Turnbull   Virginia Ruzici
  Ion Țiriac		 6–3, 2–6, 6–3
Win 1979 Wimbledon (2)   Greer Stevens   Betty Stöve
  Frew McMillan		 7–5, 7–6(9–7)
Win 1979 US Open   Greer Stevens   Betty Stöve
  Frew McMillan		 6–3, 7–5

Open-era doubles finals edit

Wins (54) edit

Result No. Year Tournament Surface Partner Opponents Score
Win 1. 1970 Washington, D.C., U.S. Hard   Frew McMillan   Ilie Năstase
  Ion Țiriac 		7–5, 6–0
Loss 1. 1970 Cincinnati, U.S. Clay   Frew McMillan   Ilie Năstase
  Ion Țiriac 		3–6, 4–6
Win 2. 1970 Hamburg, Germany Clay   Frew McMillan   Tom Okker
  Nikola Pilić 		6–3, 7–5, 6–2
Win 3. 1972 Bournemouth, England Clay   Frew McMillan   Ilie Năstase
  Ion Țiriac 		7–5, 6–2
Win 4. 1972 French Open, Paris Clay   Frew McMillan   Patricio Cornejo
  Jaime Fillol 		6–3, 8–6, 3–6, 6–1
Loss 2. 1972 Hamburg, Germany Clay   Ion Țiriac   Jan Kodeš
  Ilie Năstase 		6–4, 0–6, 6–3, 2–6, 2–6
Win 5. 1972 Bristol, England Grass   Frew McMillan   Clark Graebner
  Lew Hoad 		6–3, 6–2
Win 6. 1972 Wimbledon, London Grass   Frew McMillan   Stan Smith
  Erik van Dillen 		6–2, 6–2, 9–7
Win 7. 1972 Tanglewood, U.S. Clay   Andrew Pattison   Jim McManus
  Jim Osborne 		6–4, 6–4
Win 8. 1972 Cincinnati, U.S. Clay   Frew McMillan   Paul Gerken
  Humphrey Hose 		7–6, 6–4
Win 9. 1972 Indianapolis, U.S. Clay   Frew McMillan   Patricio Cornejo
  Jaime Fillol 		6–2, 6–3
Win 10. 1972 Albany, U.S. Carpet   Frew McMillan   Ove Nils Bengtson
  Björn Borg 		6–4, 6–2
Loss 3. 1974 Little Rock, U.S. Carpet   Vitas Gerulaitis   Jürgen Fassbender
  Karl Meiler 		0–6, 2–6
Win 11. 1974 Washington WCT, U.S. Carpet   Frew McMillan   Tom Okker
  Marty Riessen 		7–6, 6–3
Win 12. 1974 Rotterdam, Netherlands Carpet   Frew McMillan   Pierre Barthès
  Ilie Năstase 		3–6, 6–4, 6–3
Win 13. 1974 Munich WCT, Germany Carpet   Frew McMillan   Pierre Barthès
  Ilie Năstase 		6–2, 7–6
Win 14. 1974 Johannesburg WCT, South Africa Hard   Frew McMillan   Jim McManus
  Andrew Pattison 		6–2, 6–4, 7–6
Win 15. 1974 World Doubles WCT, Montreal Carpet   Frew McMillan   Owen Davidson
  John Newcombe 		6–2, 6–7, 6–1, 6–2
Loss 4. 1974 Vienna, Austria Hard (i)   Frew McMillan   Raymond Moore
  Andrew Pattison 		4–6, 7–5, 4–6
Loss 5. 1974 Stockholm, Sweden Hard (i)   Frew McMillan   Tom Okker
  Marty Riessen 		6–2, 3–6, 4–6
Win 16. 1974 Johannesburg, South Africa Hard   Frew McMillan   Tom Okker
  Marty Riessen 		7–6, 6–4, 6–3
Win 17. 1975 Rotterdam WCT, Netherlands Carpet   Frew McMillan   José Higueras
  Balázs Taróczy 		6–2, 6–2
Win 18. 1975 Munich WCT, Germany Carpet   Frew McMillan   Corrado Barazzutti
  Antonio Zugarelli 		6–3, 6–4
Win 19. 1975 Monte Carlo WCT, Monaco Clay   Frew McMillan   Arthur Ashe
  Tom Okker 		6–3, 6–2
Loss 6. 1975 Johannesburg WCT, South Africa Hard   Frew McMillan   Arthur Ashe
  Tom Okker 		3–6, 2–6
Loss 7. 1975 Tehran, Iran Clay   Frew McMillan   Juan Gisbert
  Manuel Orantes 		5–7, 7–6, 1–6, 4–6
Win 20. 1975 Stockholm, Sweden Hard (i)   Frew McMillan   Charlie Pasarell
  Roscoe Tanner 		3–6, 6–3, 6–4
Win 21. 1976 Columbus WCT, U.S. Carpet   Frew McMillan   Arthur Ashe
  Tom Okker 		7–6, 6–4
Win 22. 1976 Baltimore WCT, U.S. Carpet   Frew McMillan   Ilie Năstase
  Cliff Richey 		3–6, 7–6, 6–4
Loss 8. 1976 Philadelphia WCT, U.S. Carpet   Frew McMillan   Rod Laver
  Dennis Ralston 		6–7, 6–7
Win 23. 1976 Montreal, Canada Hard   Raúl Ramírez   Juan Gisbert
  Manuel Orantes 		6–2, 6–1
Loss 9. 1976 San Francisco, U.S. Carpet   Brian Gottfried   Dick Stockton
  Roscoe Tanner 		3–6, 4–6
Loss 10. 1976 Madrid, Spain Clay   Frew McMillan   Wojtek Fibak
  Raúl Ramírez 		6–4, 5–7, 3–6
Loss 11. 1976 Barcelona, Spain Clay   Frew McMillan   Brian Gottfried
  Raúl Ramírez 		6–7, 4–6
Win 24. 1976 Vienna, Austria Hard (i)   Frew McMillan   Brian Gottfried
  Raúl Ramírez 		6–4, 4–0 RET
Win 25. 1976 Cologne, Germany Carpet   Frew McMillan   Colin Dowdeswell
  Mike Estep 		6–1, 3–6, 7–6
Win 26. 1976 Stockholm, Sweden Hard (i)   Frew McMillan   Tom Okker
  Marty Riessen 		6–4, 4–6, 6–4
Win 27. 1977 Philadelphia WCT, U.S. Carpet   Frew McMillan   Wojtek Fibak
  Tom Okker 		6–1, 1–6, 6–3
Loss 12. 1977 Little Rock, U.S. Carpet   Frew McMillan   Colin Dibley
  Haroon Rahim 		7–6, 3–6, 3–6
Win 28. 1977 Springfield, U.S. Carpet   Frew McMillan   Ion Țiriac
  Guillermo Vilas 		7–6, 6–2
Win 29. 1977 San Jose, U.S. Hard   Frew McMillan   Tom Gorman
  Geoff Masters 		6–2, 6–3
Win 30. 1977 Palm Springs, U.S. Hard   Frew McMillan   Marty Riessen
  Roscoe Tanner 		7–6, 7–6
Win 31. 1977 Johannesburg, South Africa Hard   Frew McMillan   Charlie Pasarell
  Erik van Dillen 		6–2, 6–0
Win 32. 1977 La Costa, U.S. Hard   Frew McMillan   Ray Ruffels
  Allan Stone 		6–4, 6–2
Win 33. 1977 Los Angeles PSW, U.S. Carpet   Frew McMillan   Robert Lutz
  Stan Smith 		6–3, 6–4
Win 34. 1977 Jackson, U.S. Carpet   Frew McMillan   Phil Dent
  Ken Rosewall 		6–2, 7–6
Loss 13. 1977 Las Vegas, U.S. Hard   Raúl Ramírez   Robert Lutz
  Stan Smith 		3–6, 6–3, 4–6
Win 35. 1977 Hamburg, Germany Clay   Karl Meiler   Phil Dent
  Kim Warwick 		3–6, 6–3, 6–4, 6–4
Loss 14. 1977 Gstaad, Switzerland Clay   Colin Dowdeswell   Jürgen Fassbender
  Karl Meiler 		4–6, 6–7
Loss 15. 1977 Cincinnati, U.S. Clay   Roscoe Tanner   John Alexander
  Phil Dent 		3–6, 6–7
Win 36. 1977 Montreal, Canada Hard   Raúl Ramírez   Fred McNair
  Sherwood Stewart 		6–4, 3–6, 6–2
Win 37. 1977 US Open, New York City Clay   Frew McMillan   Brian Gottfried
  Raúl Ramírez 		6–4, 6–0
Loss 16. 1977 Tehran, Iran Clay   Frew McMillan   Ion Țiriac
  Guillermo Vilas 		6–1, 1–6, 4–6
Win 38. 1977 Madrid, Spain Clay   Frew McMillan   Antonio Muñoz
  Manuel Orantes 		6–7, 7–6, 6–3, 6–1
Loss 17. 1977 Barcelona, Spain Clay   Frew McMillan   Wojtek Fibak
  Jan Kodeš 		0–6, 4–6
Win 39. 1977 Vienna, Austria Hard (i)   Frew McMillan   Wojtek Fibak
  Jan Kodeš 		6–4, 6–3
Win 40. 1977 Cologne, Germany Carpet   Frew McMillan   Fred McNair
  Sherwood Stewart 		6–3, 7–5
Win 41. 1978 Philadelphia WCT, U.S. Carpet   Frew McMillan   Vitas Gerulaitis
  Sandy Mayer 		6–4, 6–4
Win 42. 1978 Richmond WCT, U.S. Carpet   Frew McMillan   Vitas Gerulaitis
  Sandy Mayer 		6–3, 7–5
Win 43. 1978 St. Louis WCT, U.S. Carpet   Frew McMillan   Wojtek Fibak
  Tom Okker 		6–3, 6–2
Loss 18. 1978 Palm Springs, U.S. Hard   Frew McMillan   Raymond Moore
  Roscoe Tanner 		4–6, 4–6
Win 44. 1978 Denver, U.S. Carpet   Frew McMillan   Fred McNair
  Sherwood Stewart 		6–3, 6–2
Win 45. 1978 Johannesburg, South Africa Hard   Frew McMillan   Colin Dibley
  Geoff Masters 		7–5, 7–6
Loss 19. 1978 Las Vegas, U.S. Hard   Raúl Ramírez   Álvaro Fillol
  Jaime Fillol 		3–6, 6–7
Win 46. 1978 London/Queen's Club, England Grass   Frew McMillan   Fred McNair
  Raúl Ramírez 		6–2, 7–5
Win 47. 1978 Wimbledon, London Grass   Frew McMillan   Peter Fleming
  John McEnroe 		6–1, 6–4, 6–2
Loss 20. 1978 Gstaad, Switzerland Clay   Kim Warwick   Mark Edmondson
  Tom Okker 		4–6, 6–1, 1–6, 4–6
Win 48. 1978 Washington, D.C., U.S. Clay   Arthur Ashe   Fred McNair
  Raúl Ramírez 		6–3, 6–4
Loss 21. 1978 Vienna, Austria Hard (i)   Frew McMillan   Víctor Pecci
  Balázs Taróczy 		3–6, 7–6, 4–6
Loss 22. 1978 Cologne, Germany Hard (i)   Frew McMillan   Peter Fleming
  John McEnroe 		3–6, 2–6
Loss 23. 1978 Johannesburg, South Africa Hard   Frew McMillan   Peter Fleming
  Raymond Moore 		3–6, 6–7
Win 49. 1979 Båstad, Sweden Clay   Heinz Günthardt   Mark Edmondson
  John Marks 		6–2, 6–2
Loss 24. 1979 Toronto, Canada Hard   Heinz Günthardt   Peter Fleming
  John McEnroe 		7–6, 6–7, 1–6
Win 50. 1979 Basel, Switzerland Hard (i)   Frew McMillan   Brian Gottfried
  Raúl Ramírez 		6–3, 6–4
Win 51. 1979 Vienna, Austria Hard (i)   Frew McMillan   Brian Gottfried
  Raúl Ramírez 		6–4, 3–6, 6–1
Win 52. 1979 Johannesburg, South Africa Hard   Frew McMillan   Mike Cahill
  Buster Mottram 		1–6, 6–1, 6–4
Win 53. 1980 Johannesburg, South Africa Hard   Frew McMillan   Colin Dowdeswell
  Heinz Günthardt 		6–4, 6–3
Win 54. 1980 Munich, Germany Clay   Heinz Günthardt   David Carter
  Chris Lewis 		7–6, 6–1
Loss 25. 1980 Basel, Switzerland Hard (i)   Frew McMillan   Kevin Curren
  Steve Denton 		7–6, 4–6, 4–6

Allegations and conviction of sexual assault and rape edit

Bob Hewitt
Born
Robert Anthony John Hewitt
Criminal statusParoled
Conviction(s)23 March 2015 (guilty plea)
Criminal chargeChild grooming
Sexual activity with a minor
Penalty6 years imprisonment (served 3 years 6 months and 22 days)

In 2011, a six-month investigation by The Boston Globe disclosed allegations from one adult woman who was coached as a girl by Hewitt's assistant coach.[11] The investigation was prompted by the revelations of a former student in March 2011,[12] who claimed that, beginning in the 1970s, Hewitt abused or harassed her when she was as young as 10 years old. Interviews with contemporaries in the United States and South Africa indicated that there had been no rumours about misconduct by Hewitt at the time of the alleged events. The South African Tennis Union investigated after 1992, but no legal action was taken against Hewitt.[11]

The Boston Globe's investigation and report of the victim prompted the request and was followed up by a letter signed by his alleged victim asking for his removal from the Hall of Fame. A November 2011 investigative piece by Mary Carillo of HBO's Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel includes interviews with the alleged victim and others who claim that Hewitt abused them. Hewitt did not agree to be interviewed for the piece.

In May 2012, Hewitt's one-time mixed doubles partner Billie Jean King spoke to the Washingtonian, saying "I don't feel good about Bob Hewitt. I played mixed with him. We won the French Open together in 1970. I'm not happy. I am very upset."[13] On 15 November 2012, after months of investigation, Hewitt lost his place in the International Tennis Hall of Fame: "His legacy ceases to exist in the Hall of Fame", said Mark Stenning, executive director of the International Tennis Hall of Fame. "As of today, his plaque will be removed from the Hall of Fame. His name will be removed from our website and all other materials, and from the perspective of the Hall of Fame, he is suspended from the Hall of Fame."[14][15] On 6 April 2016, Hewitt was officially expelled from the Tennis Hall of Fame.[16]

Conviction edit

Hewitt was charged in June 2014 with rape of two underage students in the 1980s and 1990s, and went on trial in 2015.[17][18][19] On 23 March 2015, Hewitt was found guilty of two counts of rape and one of sexual assault of minors by the South Gauteng High Court in South Africa, and was sentenced in May to an effective six years in jail.[20][21][22] One of his victims was 13 in 1980 when Hewitt, who was her tennis coach, raped her.[23] Heather Crowe Conner of West Newbury was a 14-year-old in 1975 when Hewitt began raping her.[23] Another victim was 12 in 1982 when Hewitt assaulted her during a tennis lesson.[23]

Hewitt was released on parole in April 2020. At the time Hewitt had served three years, six months and 22 days of his six-year sentence.[24]

References edit

  1. ^ United States Lawn Tennis Association (1972). Official Encyclopedia of Tennis (First Edition), p. 428.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Grasso 2011, p. 135.
  3. ^ South African Panorama. South African Information Service. 1973.
  4. ^ a b "Bob Hewitt sentenced to six years' jail for rape and sexual assault of underage girls in South Africa" - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
  5. ^ Bud Collins; Zander Hollander (1994). Bud Collins' Modern Encyclopedia of Tennis. Visible Ink Press. ISBN 978-0-8103-9443-8.
  6. ^ World Tennis. CBS Publications. 1981.
  7. ^ "Ex-tennis champion Bob Hewitt jailed for rape in South Africa". ABC News. 18 May 2015. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  8. ^ Huntsdale, Justin (17 March 2011). "Tennis great Bob Hewitt returns to Dubbo". www.abc.net.au. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  9. ^ "Ex-tennis star Bob Hewitt guilty of raping girls in South Africa". Archived from the original on 4 August 2022. Retrieved 23 March 2015.
  10. ^ "Tennis Hall of Fame removes Bob Hewitt – The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  11. ^ a b Hohler, Bob (28 August 2011). "Tennis star trailed by allegations of abuse". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 28 August 2011.
  12. ^ Solis, Jennifer (24 March 2011). "Ex-board member recounts sexual assaults". Daily News. Newburyport, Massachusetts. Retrieved 28 August 2011.
  13. ^ "A Conversation With Billie Jean King | Washingtonian (DC)". Washingtonian. 30 May 2012. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  14. ^ Bob Hohler (15 November 2012). "Tennis Hall of Fame removes Bob Hewitt". The Boston Globe.
  15. ^ "Abuse claims cost former tennis champion Bob Hewitt his place in sport's Hall of Fame". The Australian. 16 November 2012.
  16. ^ "Ex-tennis champ Bob Hewitt's appeal on rape conviction rejected". USA TODAY. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  17. ^ "Bob Hewitt found guilty of rape". News24. 23 March 2015. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  18. ^ "Ex-tennis star charged with rape". BBC News. 6 June 2014. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  19. ^ Laing, Aislinn (9 June 2016). "Tennis champion Bob Hewitt loses child rape appeal". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  20. ^ Bob Hewitt found guilty of rape | News24
  21. ^ Bob Hewitt gets effective six years in jail
  22. ^ Tennis champion Bob Hewitt loses child rape appeal
  23. ^ a b c Former tennis star Bob Hewitt ordered imprisoned – The Boston Globe
  24. ^ "Convicted rapist Bob Hewitt released on parole". News24. 24 April 2020. Archived from the original on 6 May 2020. Retrieved 26 May 2020.

Reference bibliography edit

  • Grasso, John (2011). "Hewitt, Robert Anthony John "Bob"". Historical Dictionary of Tennis. Historical Dictionaries of Sports. Scarecrow Press. pp. 135–136. ISBN 9780810872370.

External links edit

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