Robert Anthony John Hewitt (born 12 January 1940) is a former professional tennis player from Australia. In 1967, after marrying a South African, he became a South African citizen. He has won 15 major titles and a career Grand Slam in both men's and mixed doubles.
In 2015, he was convicted of rape and sexual assault of girls he was coaching in the 1980s and 1990s; Hewitt was sentenced to six years in jail, and was subsequently expelled from the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
Early life Hewitt was born and grew up in Dubbo, Australia, 400 kilometres west of Sydney."Bob Hewitt sentenced to six years' jail for rape and sexual assault of underage girls in South Africa" - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) In the 1970s, he and his South African wife Dalaille (née Nicholas) moved to Johannesburg, South Africa. He is now a South African citizen.
Career Hewitt's most significant accomplishment was winning all Grand Slam doubles titles, both in men's and mixed doubles (US Open, Wimbledon, Australian Open and French Open), and being central to South Africa's only Davis Cup title in 1974. This victory was controversial, as India boycotted the final on the orders of their government due to South Africa's apartheid policies and their effect on the ethnic Indian community of the country.
Hewitt achieved seven titles in singles and 65 in doubles. He was ranked world No. 6 in 1967 by Lance Tingay of The Daily Telegraph. In 1992, he was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame, but he was suspended from the Hall in 2012 and expelled in 2016 after his convictions of rape and sexual assault.
Grand Slam finals
Doubles (9 titles, 4 runner-ups) ResultYearChampionshipSurfacePartnerOpponentsScoreLoss 1961 Wimbledon Grass Fred Stolle Roy Emerson Neale Fraser 4–6, 8–6, 4–6, 8–6, 6–8Loss 1962 Australian Championships Grass Fred Stolle Roy Emerson Neale Fraser 6–4, 6–4, 1–6, 4–6, 9–11Win 1962 Wimbledon Grass Fred Stolle Boro Jovanović Nikola Pilić 6–2, 5–7, 6–2, 6–4Win 1963 Australian Championships Grass Fred Stolle Ken Fletcher John Newcombe 6–2, 3–6, 6–3, 3–6, 6–3Win 1964 Australian Championships Grass Fred Stolle Roy Emerson Ken Fletcher 6–4, 7–5, 3–6, 4–6, 14–12Win 1964 Wimbledon (2) Grass Fred Stolle Roy Emerson Ken Fletcher 7–5, 11–9, 6–4Loss 1965 French Championships Clay Ken Fletcher Roy Emerson Fred Stolle 8–6, 3–6, 6–8, 2–6Loss 1965 Wimbledon Grass Ken Fletcher John Newcombe Tony Roche 5–7, 3–6, 4–6Win 1967 Wimbledon (3) Grass Frew McMillan Roy Emerson Ken Fletcher 6–2, 6–3, 6–4Win 1972 French Open Clay Frew McMillan Patricio Cornejo Jaime Fillol 6–3, 8–6, 3–6, 6–1Win 1972 Wimbledon (4) Grass Frew McMillan Stan Smith Erik van Dillen 6–2, 6–2, 9–7Win 1977 US Open Hard Frew McMillan Brian Gottfried Raúl Ramírez 6–4, 6–0 Winner 1978 Wimbledon (5) Grass Frew McMillan Peter Fleming John McEnroe 6–1, 6–4, 6–2
Mixed doubles (6 titles, 1 runner-up) ResultYearChampionshipSurfacePartnerOpponentsScoreWin 1961 Australian Championships Grass Jan Lehane O'Neill Mary Carter Reitano John Pearce 9–7, 6–2Loss 1963 Wimbledon Grass Darlene Hard Margaret Court Ken Fletcher 9–11, 4–6Win 1970 French Open Clay Billie Jean King Françoise Dürr Jean-Claude Barclay 3–6, 6–4, 6–2Win 1977 Wimbledon Grass Greer Stevens Betty Stöve Frew McMillan 3–6, 7–5, 6–4Win 1979 French Open (2) Clay Wendy Turnbull Virginia Ruzici Ion Țiriac 6–3, 2–6, 6–3Win 1979 Wimbledon (2) Grass Greer Stevens Betty Stöve Frew McMillan 7–5, 7–6(9–7)Win 1979 US Open Hard Greer Stevens Betty Stöve Frew McMillan 6–3, 7–5
Open-era doubles finals
Wins (54) ResultNo.YearTournamentSurfacePartnerOpponentsScoreWin1.1970Washington, D.C., U.S.Hard Frew McMillan Ilie Năstase Ion Țiriac7–5, 6–0Loss1.1970Cincinnati, U.S.Clay Frew McMillan Ilie Năstase Ion Țiriac3–6, 4–6Win2.1970Hamburg, GermanyClay Frew McMillan Tom Okker Nikola Pilić6–3, 7–5, 6–2Win3.1972Bournemouth, EnglandClay Frew McMillan Ilie Năstase Ion Țiriac7–5, 6–2Win4.1972French Open, ParisClay Frew McMillan Patricio Cornejo Jaime Fillol6–3, 8–6, 3–6, 6–1Loss2.1972Hamburg, GermanyClay Ion Țiriac Jan Kodeš Ilie Năstase6–4, 0–6, 6–3, 2–6, 2–6Win5.1972Bristol, EnglandGrass Frew McMillan Clark Graebner Lew Hoad6–3, 6–2Win6.1972Wimbledon, LondonGrass Frew McMillan Stan Smith Erik van Dillen6–2, 6–2, 9–7Win7.1972Tanglewood, U.S.Clay Andrew Pattison Jim McManus Jim Osborne6–4, 6–4Win8.1972Cincinnati, U.S.Clay Frew McMillan Paul Gerken Humphrey Hose7–6, 6–4Win9.1972Indianapolis, U.S.Clay Frew McMillan Patricio Cornejo Jaime Fillol6–2, 6–3Win10.1972Albany, U.S.Carpet Frew McMillan Ove Nils Bengtson Björn Borg6–4, 6–2Loss3.1974Little Rock, U.S.Carpet Vitas Gerulaitis Jürgen Fassbender Karl Meiler0–6, 2–6Win11.1974Washington WCT, U.S.Carpet Frew McMillan Tom Okker Marty Riessen7–6, 6–3Win12.1974Rotterdam, NetherlandsCarpet Frew McMillan Pierre Barthès Ilie Năstase3–6, 6–4, 6–3Win13.1974Munich WCT, GermanyCarpet Frew McMillan Pierre Barthès Ilie Năstase6–2, 7–6Win14.1974Johannesburg WCT, South AfricaHard Frew McMillan Jim McManus Andrew Pattison6–2, 6–4, 7–6Win15.1974World Doubles WCT, MontrealCarpet Frew McMillan Owen Davidson John Newcombe6–2, 6–7, 6–1, 6–2Loss4.1974Vienna, AustriaHard (i) Frew McMillan Raymond Moore Andrew Pattison4–6, 7–5, 4–6Loss5.1974Stockholm, SwedenHard (i) Frew McMillan Tom Okker Marty Riessen6–2, 3–6, 4–6Win16.1974Johannesburg, South AfricaHard Frew McMillan Tom Okker Marty Riessen7–6, 6–4, 6–3Win17.1975Rotterdam WCT, NetherlandsCarpet Frew McMillan José Higueras Balázs Taróczy6–2, 6–2Win18.1975Munich WCT, GermanyCarpet Frew McMillan Corrado Barazzutti Antonio Zugarelli6–3, 6–4Win19.1975Monte Carlo WCT, MonacoClay Frew McMillan Arthur Ashe Tom Okker6–3, 6–2Loss6.1975Johannesburg WCT, South AfricaHard Frew McMillan Arthur Ashe Tom Okker3–6, 2–6Loss7.1975Tehran, IranClay Frew McMillan Juan Gisbert Manuel Orantes5–7, 7–6, 1–6, 4–6Win20.1975Stockholm, SwedenHard (i) Frew McMillan Charlie Pasarell Roscoe Tanner3–6, 6–3, 6–4Win21.1976Columbus WCT, U.S.Carpet Frew McMillan Arthur Ashe Tom Okker7–6, 6–4Win22.1976Baltimore WCT, U.S.Carpet Frew McMillan Ilie Năstase Cliff Richey3–6, 7–6, 6–4Loss8.1976Philadelphia WCT, U.S.Carpet Frew McMillan Rod Laver Dennis Ralston6–7, 6–7Win23.1976Montreal, CanadaHard Raúl Ramírez Juan Gisbert Manuel Orantes6–2, 6–1Loss9.1976San Francisco, U.S.Carpet Brian Gottfried Dick Stockton Roscoe Tanner3–6, 4–6Loss10.1976Madrid, SpainClay Frew McMillan Wojtek Fibak Raúl Ramírez6–4, 5–7, 3–6Loss11.1976Barcelona, SpainClay Frew McMillan Brian Gottfried Raúl Ramírez6–7, 4–6Win24.1976Vienna, AustriaHard (i) Frew McMillan Brian Gottfried Raúl Ramírez6–4, 4–0 RETWin25.1976Cologne, GermanyCarpet Frew McMillan Colin Dowdeswell Mike Estep6–1, 3–6, 7–6Win26.1976Stockholm, SwedenHard (i) Frew McMillan Tom Okker Marty Riessen6–4, 4–6, 6–4Win27.1977Philadelphia WCT, U.S.Carpet Frew McMillan Wojtek Fibak Tom Okker6–1, 1–6, 6–3Loss12.1977Little Rock, U.S.Carpet Frew McMillan Colin Dibley Haroon Rahim7–6, 3–6, 3–6Win28.1977Springfield, U.S.Carpet Frew McMillan Ion Țiriac Guillermo Vilas7–6, 6–2Win29.1977San Jose, U.S.Hard Frew McMillan Tom Gorman Geoff Masters6–2, 6–3Win30.1977Palm Springs, U.S.Hard Frew McMillan Marty Riessen Roscoe Tanner7–6, 7–6Win31.1977Johannesburg, South AfricaHard Frew McMillan Charlie Pasarell Erik van Dillen6–2, 6–0Win32.1977La Costa, U.S.Hard Frew McMillan Ray Ruffels Allan Stone6–4, 6–2Win33.1977Los Angeles PSW, U.S.Carpet Frew McMillan Robert Lutz Stan Smith6–3, 6–4Win34.1977Jackson, U.S.Carpet Frew McMillan Phil Dent Ken Rosewall6–2, 7–6Loss13.1977Las Vegas, U.S.Hard Raúl Ramírez Robert Lutz Stan Smith3–6, 6–3, 4–6Win35.1977Hamburg, GermanyClay Karl Meiler Phil Dent Kim Warwick3–6, 6–3, 6–4, 6–4Loss14.1977Gstaad, SwitzerlandClay Colin Dowdeswell Jürgen Fassbender Karl Meiler4–6, 6–7Loss15.1977Cincinnati, U.S.Clay Roscoe Tanner John Alexander Phil Dent3–6, 6–7Win36.1977Montreal, CanadaHard Raúl Ramírez Fred McNair Sherwood Stewart6–4, 3–6, 6–2Win37.1977US Open, New York CityClay Frew McMillan Brian Gottfried Raúl Ramírez6–4, 6–0Loss16.1977Tehran, IranClay Frew McMillan Ion Țiriac Guillermo Vilas6–1, 1–6, 4–6Win38.1977Madrid, SpainClay Frew McMillan Antonio Muñoz Manuel Orantes6–7, 7–6, 6–3, 6–1Loss17.1977Barcelona, SpainClay Frew McMillan Wojtek Fibak Jan Kodeš0–6, 4–6Win39.1977Vienna, AustriaHard (i) Frew McMillan Wojtek Fibak Jan Kodeš6–4, 6–3Win40.1977Cologne, GermanyCarpet Frew McMillan Fred McNair Sherwood Stewart6–3, 7–5Win41.1978Philadelphia WCT, U.S.Carpet Frew McMillan Vitas Gerulaitis Sandy Mayer6–4, 6–4Win42.1978Richmond WCT, U.S.Carpet Frew McMillan Vitas Gerulaitis Sandy Mayer6–3, 7–5Win43.1978St. Louis WCT, U.S.Carpet Frew McMillan Wojtek Fibak Tom Okker6–3, 6–2Loss18.1978Palm Springs, U.S.Hard Frew McMillan Raymond Moore Roscoe Tanner4–6, 4–6Win44.1978Denver, U.S.Carpet Frew McMillan Fred McNair Sherwood Stewart6–3, 6–2Win45.1978Johannesburg, South AfricaHard Frew McMillan Colin Dibley Geoff Masters7–5, 7–6Loss19.1978Las Vegas, U.S.Hard Raúl Ramírez Álvaro Fillol Jaime Fillol3–6, 6–7Win46.1978London/Queen's Club, EnglandGrass Frew McMillan Fred McNair Raúl Ramírez6–2, 7–5Win47.1978Wimbledon, LondonGrass Frew McMillan Peter Fleming John McEnroe6–1, 6–4, 6–2Loss20.1978Gstaad, SwitzerlandClay Kim Warwick Mark Edmondson Tom Okker4–6, 6–1, 1–6, 4–6Win48.1978Washington, D.C., U.S.Clay Arthur Ashe Fred McNair Raúl Ramírez6–3, 6–4Loss21.1978Vienna, AustriaHard (i) Frew McMillan Víctor Pecci Balázs Taróczy3–6, 7–6, 4–6Loss22.1978Cologne, GermanyHard (i) Frew McMillan Peter Fleming John McEnroe3–6, 2–6Loss23.1978Johannesburg, South AfricaHard Frew McMillan Peter Fleming Raymond Moore3–6, 6–7Win49.1979Båstad, SwedenClay Heinz Günthardt Mark Edmondson John Marks6–2, 6–2Loss24.1979Toronto, CanadaHard Heinz Günthardt Peter Fleming John McEnroe7–6, 6–7, 1–6Win50.1979Basel, SwitzerlandHard (i) Frew McMillan Brian Gottfried Raúl Ramírez6–3, 6–4Win51.1979Vienna, AustriaHard (i) Frew McMillan Brian Gottfried Raúl Ramírez6–4, 3–6, 6–1Win52.1979Johannesburg, South AfricaHard Frew McMillan Mike Cahill Buster Mottram1–6, 6–1, 6–4Win53.1980Johannesburg, South AfricaHard Frew McMillan Colin Dowdeswell Heinz Günthardt6–4, 6–3Win54.1980Munich, GermanyClay Heinz Günthardt David Carter Chris Lewis7–6, 6–1Loss25.1980Basel, SwitzerlandHard (i) Frew McMillan Kevin Curren Steve Denton7–6, 4–6, 4–6
Allegations and conviction of sexual assault and rape
In 2011, a six-month investigation by The Boston Globe disclosed allegations from one adult woman who was coached as a girl by Hewitt's assistant coach. The investigation was prompted by the revelations of a former student in March 2011, who claimed that, beginning in the 1970s, Hewitt abused or harassed her when she was as young as 10 years old. Interviews with contemporaries in the United States and South Africa indicated that there had been no rumours about misconduct by Hewitt at the time of the alleged events. The South African Tennis Union investigated after 1992, but no legal action was taken against Hewitt.
The Boston Globes investigation and report of the victim prompted the request and was followed up by a letter signed by his alleged victim asking for his removal from the Hall of Fame. A November 2011 investigative piece by Mary Carillo of HBO's Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel includes interviews with the alleged victim and others who claim that Hewitt abused them. Hewitt did not agree to be interviewed for the piece.