Former world No.1 and two-time Grand Slam champion Lleyton Hewitt has been awarded a wildcard into Australian Open 2012.
Tournament Director Craig Tiley announced at Melbourne Park today that the decision was one of the easier ones he’d had to make.
“His passion and commitment to the game is second to none. We are delighted to offer him a wildcard for 2012,” Tiley said.
“Lleyton has had some bad luck with injury rceently which has seen his ranking drop, but he has proved time and time again that he can never be discounted, particularly in a big match.”
Hewitt has slipped to world No.188 after injury limited him to just 20 matches during 2011. He was sidelined for three months due to a left foot injury that necessitated surgery, yet his ankle continued to hamper him when he returned for the grasscourt season in June.
He was forced to withdraw from the US Open, and played his last matches for the year in September during Australia’s loss to Switzerland in the Davis Cup World Group Playoff.
Hewitt has a storied history at Melbourne Park, reaching the final in the Australian Open’s centenary year in 2005 before falling in four sets to Marat Safin. He has reached the fourth round on a further five occasions.
At Australian Open 2011, Hewitt fought out an epic match against arch-rival David Nalbandian in the first round before being defeated 9-7 in the fifth set.
Australian Open 2012, presented by Kia Motors in association with ANZ, Jacob’s Creek and Rolex, will take place at Melbourne Park on 16-29 January.