Sport page from the Sunday Mail featuring a full page colour photograph of Lleyton Hewitt.

In January 2000, South Australian teenager Lleyton Hewitt defeated defending champion Thomas Enqvist of Sweden to win the Australian Hardcourt Championships for the second time in three years.

Hewitt turned professional in 1998 and won his first tournament in that year. He made his Davis Cup debut for Australia in 1999; he was a strongly supportive member of teams that won the Davis Cup in 1999 and 2003, and reached the finals in 2000 and 2001.

In 2000 he became the first teenager to win four titles in a season since Pete Sampras in 1990, and finished as Number 1 Australian for first time. Hewitt won his first Grand Slam singles title in 2001, beating Pete Sampras in the final of the US Open. He won the Tennis Masters Cup in 2001 and 2002, and was Wimbledon champion in 2002. He became well-known for calling 'Come on!' when winning a decisive point in a match.

In November 2001, at 20 years of age, Adelaide's Lleyton Hewitt became the youngest player ever, and the third player from Australia, to achieve Number 1 world ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) ranking. The previous youngest was the United States' Jimmy Connors at 22 years of age in 1974. Hewitt was again ranked Number 1 in 2002.

In August 2002, Hewitt made the Special Olympics his primary charitable cause, becoming a global ambassador for the organisation. He was announced South Australian of the Year in 2001, and the Australia Day awards of January 2003 recognised his achievements by naming him Young Australian of the Year.

Hewitt, Lleyton, 1981-

The 2002 Wimbledon highlights [videorecording]: "it's a ripper" , London?: TWI; South Yarra, Victoria; Visual Entertainment Group (Distributor), 2002

ATPtennis.comsee: Players: Hewitt, Lleyton

BBC Sport: profile of Lleyton Hewitt

The Original Lleyton Hewitt Website

SA Greatsee: Awards: South Australian of the Year