A frustrated Lleyton Hewitt will appeal the two-week ban and $30,000 fine he was slapped with this week after being found guilty of “offensive conduct” for shoving a 60-year-old anti-doping chaperone following Australia’s Davis Cup semi-final defeat to Italy last year.
The incident happened in a crowded corridor in Malaga, with an independent tribunal issuing its punishment just days ahead of Australia’s Davis Cup tie with Belgium this weekend in Sydney.
The ban will come into place on September 24 and lasts until October 7, allowing the 44-year-old to captain Australia this weekend, and Hewitt was in no mood to talk about the ban and fine when speaking to the media on Thursday afternoon.
“I’m just really disappointed about the overall decision but also the whole process to be honest, and the lack of facts that have been put out,” he said. “I’ll be going to the appeal process with my legal team, so I won’t be talking about it any further.”
Details around the incident itself remain sketchy, and Hewitt wouldn’t shed any light on what actually happened.
“Right now, it’s with my legal team, so they’ll be going through that, and I won’t be making any more comments,” he said, before hitting out at the timing of the decision.
“Unlike the ITIA (International Tennis Integrity Agency) and the ITFO, I won’t be making it a distraction for the Davis Cup.
“This competition means too much.
“For us, the chance to come back after three years away and play on home soil in Australia, there are so many kids here who will get the opportunity to see their role models up close – especially Alex (de Minaur) – a top 10 player, playing on his favourite court here in front of his crowd.
“There’s too many great stories and positives to take away from this weekend and what we’re trying to do.
“I think deep down it will make the boys even stronger to go out there and get the job done.”
Hewitt was blunt when asked whether he considered stepping down this weekend in light of the ban.
“No,” he said.
The ITIA had initially pushed for a harsher sentence of four weeks and a $37,500 fine considering Hewitt’s “poor disciplinary record, including five prior incidents of offensive conduct towards tennis officials and non-compliance with tennis rules.”
The ITIA also claimed Hewitt showed “a lack of remorse” and “there was no apology or check on the wellbeing of the chaperone,” who says he will never volunteer at another event again.
Hewitt attempted to claim self-defence at the tribunal, but the tribunal ruled his conduct was “not reasonable and proportionate” after encountering the chaperone in a crowded hallway.
Meanwhile, Hewitt will make three changes to the Australian side, with Alexei Popyrin and Matt Ebden both out injured, allowing John Peers, Aleksandar Vukic and Rinky Hijikata to join the side.
“Alexei Popyrin is out, he injured with a back injury and Matt Ebden has a small tear in his elbow, so those two will be going out,” Hewitt said. “We’ll bring in John Peers, Aleks Vukic and Rinky Hijikata.
“Really excited for Rinky, it’ll be his first time wearing the green and gold and for him to get the opportunity playing at the place where he grew up, in Sydney, is something really special.
“It’s one of the greatest things about this job, giving those guys that opportunity.
“Vuk did a job for us in Sweden, and the conditions here suit him. Peersy was always coming in and Rinky came into the team when Matty Ebden got injured.”