Bob Hewitt

In harness with his doubles partner Frew McMillan, Robert Anthony John Hewitt was the right court player, in a shrewd strong partnership, which combined to win five major championships, in amateur and open eras.

Bob Hewitt was a Sydney boy that terrorized the world with his expansive play, first coming to widespread attention winning the Wimbledon doubles title with Fred Stole in 1962 and 1964.

Love however, broke the alliance with Australia and as Hewitt had yet to play Davis Cup for his native land, during the Harry Hopman era, the newly married Johannesburg resident decided to compete for South Africa.

Bald, bearded, sometimes volatile on court, but a man of delicate touch he was put together with McMillan in 1966 and for the next 15 years they won Wimbledon three times (1967, 1972, 1978), the French (1972) and the U.S. (1977) once, plus sixty other titles.

Bob Hewitt, bald and temperamental, seen here with Frew McMillan [cap], at Wimbledon in 1964, a year before Hewitt would transfer his Australian passport in for a South African one, as he married his love

Hewitt was a singles quarterfinalist at Wimbledon in 1964 and 1966. He won the U.S. Clay court singles and three other professional tournaments in 1972, peaking at a highly respectable world number six in 1967. As the better singles player he won seven professional tournaments and 65 doubles titles.

At 6 foot he was highly accurate achieving success in the mixed competition, becoming one of five players to win all four. Hewitt won six in total: the Australian (1961) once; the French (1970, 1979) twice; and Wimbledon in 1977, 1979 and the U.S. title in 1979 with Greer Stevens.

He won $1m in career prize money and was a member of the South African Davis Cup team from 1967-69, 1974 and 1978. In 1974 South Africa reached the final against India, but the tie was never played.

Grand Slam Record

Australian Doubles winner 1963-64; Doubles finalist 1962; Mixed winner 1961

French Doubles winner 1972; Doubles finalist 1965; Mixed winner 1970, 1979

Wimbledon Doubles winner 1962, 1964, 1967, 1972, 1978; Doubles finalist 1961, 1965; Mixed winner 1977, 1979; Mixed finalist 1963

U.S. Championships Doubles winner 1977; Doubles finalist 1968; Mixed 1979

Tournament Record (inc. Davis Cup and Olympics)

Italian Championships Singles finalist 1968; Doubles winner 1963-64, 1967; Mixed finalist 1979

South African Davis Cup team member 1967-69, 1974, 1978; winning team 1974

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