Bec Hewitt sat child-free and firmly focused on her husband Lleyton Hewitt as he played his final match at Wimbledon overnight.
In hard fought five-set thriller – a match symbolic of 34-year-old Hewitt’s career – the Aussie lost to Finland’s Jarkko Nieminen on Monday night after succumbing 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-0, 11-9 in a tenacious four hour match at the All England Club’s first round on Monday night.
The former number one – who won at Wimbledon in 2002 – is currently embarking on a goodbye tour before retiring after next year’s Australian Open.
After the gruelling effort Hewitt said he gave the match everything he had.
“I was always going to leave it all out there, everything I had in the tank. I certainly did that,” Hewitt said.
“I didn’t leave any stone unturned preparing. In the end, obviously it’s disappointing to lose.
“I would have loved to have played Novak [Djokovic] in the next round. But Jarkko is a tough competitor.”
Wife Bec was fittingly dressed in all white as she cheered on her husband when he come close to tears as the his Wimbledon fairytale finish slipped away.
Nieminen, who was also playing in his final Wimbledon championship tournament, said it was an important win.
“To beat him here when it’s my last time here as well, it’s tough to find the words,” Nieminen said.
“I know my time is now very limited here and I just tried to go for it.”
Aussie golfer Adam Scott, who is Bec and Lleyton’s neighbour in the Bahamas, was invited to come watch his friend from the supporter’s box and paid tribute to the tennis ace after the match.
“Lleyton works so hard and has one of the biggest hearts I’ve ever seen in sport,” Scott said.
“It’s going to end here at Wimbledon today but we’ll still see him play some more matches. I’ve been really fortunate to get to know him well the last few years. He’s an inspiration to me. The way
he trains at this part of his career is motivational to me.”
But Lleyton’s retirement won’t spell the end of his relationship with tennis. In past few years he has taken on more and more of a role in the commentary box and still plays a big role in helping develop future Aussie champions.
But once he steps off the court he will likely have much more time to spend with his wife, Bec Hewitt and the couple’s three children, Ava, Mia and Cruz.
Here is a nostalgic look back at some of the moments from Lleyton’s incredible career so far.
Bec Hewitt sat in the stands with golfer Adam Scott as she cheered her husband on during his round one Wimbledon loss to Finland’s Jarkko Nieminen – a match that brings Lleyton Hewitt’s Wimbledon career to an end.
Despite the loss, the gruelling four hour match was befitting of Lleyton’s thrilling career.
A good sport: Shaking hands with his opponent, Finland’s Jarkko Nieminen.
Bec has been a faithful supporter of her husband and doesn’t hold back – often spotted passionately cheering him on from the stands.
Bec with lookalike daughter Ava.
Last year Rafael Nadal paid tribute to Lleyton after facing him at the Miami Masters. “I have the greatest respect for Lleyton,” Nadal said. “He’s a great example to me and the other players the way he has come back from injuries. He always keeps fighting.”
Young Aussie tennis ace Nick Kyrgios on his relationship with his mentor, Lleyton Hewitt: “Just to think that we are close like this now, it’s pretty crazy. I know that he is going to be someone who is supporting me for as long as he is involved in the game, which is really positive.”
Dad Lleyton Hewitt lets his six-year-old son Cruz take on a Roger Federer during a warm up in Sydney this year.
While his career has often been marred by injury Lleyton has always worked hard to come back and show off his skills during thrilling marathon matches.
Two Aussie champs together: Pat Rafter came out of retirement to team up with Lleyton Hewitt for the men’s doubles at the Australian Open in Melbourne in 2014.
