Bob Hewitt

Robert Anthony John Hewitt (born 12 January 1940) is a former professional tennis player from Australia, and convicted rapist. In 1967, after marrying a South African, he became a South African citizen.[2] He has won 15 major titles and a career Grand Slam in both men's and mixed doubles.

Bob Hewitt
Bob Hewitt (1967)
Full nameRobert Anthony John Hewitt
Country (sports) Australia
 South Africa (pre-1994)
ResidenceEastern Cape, South Africa
Born (1940-01-12) 12 January 1940
Dubbo, New South Wales, Australia
Height6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Turned pro1970 (amateur tour from 1958)
Retired1983
PlaysRight-handed (one-handed backhand)
Prize money$613,837 (Open era)
Int. Tennis HoF1992 (suspended in 2012)
(expelled in 2016)
Singles
Career record243–170 (Open era)
Career titles7
Highest rankingNo. 6 (1967, Lance Tingay)[1]
Grand Slam Singles results
Australian OpenSF (1960, 1962, 1963)
French Open4R (1961, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1967)
WimbledonQF (1962, 1964, 1966)
US OpenQF (1967)
Other tournaments
Tour FinalsRR (1972)
Doubles
Career record481–124
Career titles65
Grand Slam Doubles results
Australian OpenW (1963, 1964)
French OpenW (1972)
WimbledonW (1962, 1964, 1967, 1972, 1978)
US OpenW (1977)
Other doubles tournaments
Tour FinalsW (1977)
Mixed doubles
Career titles6
Grand Slam Mixed Doubles results
Australian OpenW (1961)
French OpenW (1970, 1979)
WimbledonW (1977, 1979)
US OpenW (1979)
Team competitions
Davis CupW (1974)

Convicted in 2015 of rape and sexual assault of minors (girls he was coaching in the 1980s and 90s), Hewitt was sentenced to an effective six years in jail, and was subsequently permanently expelled from the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

Early life

Hewitt was born and grew up in Dubbo, Australia, 400 kilometres west of Sydney.[3][4] In the 1970s, he and his South African wife Dalaille (née Nicholas) moved to Johannesburg, South Africa.[4][5][6][7] He is now a South African citizen.[8][9]

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, French Open)[2] and being central to South Africa's only Davis Cup title in 1974. That victory was controversial, with India boycotting the final on the orders of its government due to South Africa's apartheid policies, which were affecting the ethnic Indian community of the country.

Hewitt achieved seven titles in singles and 65 in doubles.[2] He was ranked World No. 6 in 1967 by Lance Tingay of The Daily Telegraph.[10] In 1992 he was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame, though in 2012 he was suspended and in 2016 he was expelled from the Tennis Hall of Fame for his convictions of rape and sexual assault.[2][11][12]

Grand Slam Doubles finals

Doubles (9 titles, 4 runner-ups)
Result Year Championship Partner Opponents Score
Loss1961Wimbledon Fred Stolle Roy Emerson
Neale Fraser		4–6, 8–6, 4–6, 8–6, 6–8
Loss1962Australian Championships Fred Stolle Roy Emerson
Neale Fraser		6–4, 6–4, 1–6, 4–6, 9–11
Win1962Wimbledon Fred Stolle Boro Jovanović
Nikola Pilić		6–2, 5–7, 6–2, 6–4
Win1963Australian Championships Fred Stolle Ken Fletcher
John Newcombe		6–2, 3–6, 6–3, 3–6, 6–3
Win1964Australian Championships Fred Stolle Roy Emerson
Ken Fletcher		6–4, 7–5, 3–6, 4–6, 14–12
Win1964Wimbledon (2) Fred Stolle Roy Emerson
Ken Fletcher		7–5, 11–9, 6–4
Loss1965French Championships Ken Fletcher Roy Emerson
Fred Stolle		8–6, 3–6, 6–8, 2–6
Loss1965Wimbledon Ken Fletcher John Newcombe
Tony Roche		5–7, 3–6, 4–6
Win1967Wimbledon (3) Frew McMillan Roy Emerson
Ken Fletcher		6–2, 6–3, 6–4
Win1972French Open Frew McMillan Patricio Cornejo
Jaime Fillol		6–3, 8–6, 3–6, 6–1
Win1972Wimbledon (4) Frew McMillan Stan Smith
Erik van Dillen		6–2, 6–2, 9–7
Win1977US Open Frew McMillan Brian Gottfried
Raúl Ramírez		6–4, 6–0
Winner1978Wimbledon (5) Frew McMillan Peter Fleming
John McEnroe		6–1, 6–4, 6–2

Mixed Doubles (6 titles, 1 runner-up)
Result Year Championship Partner Opponents Score
Win1961Australian Championships Jan Lehane O'Neill Mary Carter Reitano
John Pearce		9–7, 6–2
Loss1963Wimbledon Darlene Hard Margaret Court
Ken Fletcher		9–11, 4–6
Win1970French Open Billie Jean King Françoise Dürr
Jean-Claude Barclay		3–6, 6–4, 6–2
Win1977Wimbledon Greer Stevens Betty Stöve
Frew McMillan		3–6, 7–5, 6–4
Win1979French Open (2) Wendy Turnbull Virginia Ruzici
Ion Ţiriac		6–3, 2–6, 6–3
Win1979Wimbledon (2) Greer Stevens Betty Stöve
Frew McMillan		7–5, 7–6(9–7)
Win1979US Open Greer Stevens Betty Stöve
Frew McMillan		6–3, 7–5

Open-era doubles finals

Wins (54)
Outcome No. Year Tournament Surface Partner Opponents Score
Winner 1. 1970 Washington, D.C., U.S. Hard Frew McMillan Ilie Năstase
Ion Ţiriac		 7–5, 6–0
Runner-up 1. 1970 Cincinnati, U.S. Clay Frew McMillan Ilie Năstase
Ion Ţiriac		 3–6, 4–6
Winner 2. 1970 Hamburg, Germany Clay Frew McMillan Tom Okker
Nikola Pilić		 6–3, 7–5, 6–2
Winner 3. 1972 Bournemouth, England Clay Frew McMillan Ilie Năstase
Ion Ţiriac		 7–5, 6–2
Winner 4. 1972 French Open, Paris Clay Frew McMillan Patricio Cornejo
Jaime Fillol		 6–3, 8–6, 3–6, 6–1
Runner-up 2. 1972 Hamburg, Germany Clay Ion Ţiriac Jan Kodeš
Ilie Năstase		 6–4, 0–6, 6–3, 2–6, 2–6
Winner 5. 1972 Bristol, England Grass Frew McMillan Clark Graebner
Lew Hoad		 6–3, 6–2
Winner 6. 1972 Wimbledon, London Grass Frew McMillan Stan Smith
Erik van Dillen		 6–2, 6–2, 9–7
Winner 7. 1972 Tanglewood, U.S. Other Andrew Pattison Jim McManus
Jim Osborne		 6–4, 6–4
Winner 8. 1972 Cincinnati, U.S. Clay Frew McMillan Paul Gerken
Humphrey Hose		 7–6, 6–4
Winner 9. 1972 Indianapolis, U.S. Clay Frew McMillan Patricio Cornejo
Jaime Fillol		 6–2, 6–3
Winner 10. 1972 Albany, U.S. Carpet Frew McMillan Ove Nils Bengtson
Björn Borg		 6–4, 6–2
Runner-up 3. 1974 Little Rock, U.S. Carpet Vitas Gerulaitis Jürgen Fassbender
Karl Meiler		 0–6, 2–6
Winner 11. 1974 Washington WCT, U.S. Carpet Frew McMillan Tom Okker
Marty Riessen		 7–6, 6–3
Winner 12. 1974 Rotterdam, Netherlands Carpet Frew McMillan Pierre Barthès
Ilie Năstase		 3–6, 6–4, 6–3
Winner 13. 1974 Munich WCT, Germany Carpet Frew McMillan Pierre Barthès
Ilie Năstase		 6–2, 7–6
Winner 14. 1974 Johannesburg WCT, South Africa Hard Frew McMillan Jim McManus
Andrew Pattison		 6–2, 6–4, 7–6
Winner 15. 1974 World Doubles WCT, Montreal Carpet Frew McMillan Owen Davidson
John Newcombe		 6–2, 6–7, 6–1, 6–2
Runner-up 4. 1974 Vienna, Austria Hard (i) Frew McMillan Raymond Moore
Andrew Pattison		 4–6, 7–5, 4–6
Runner-up 5. 1974 Stockholm, Sweden Hard (i) Frew McMillan Tom Okker
Marty Riessen		 6–2, 3–6, 4–6
Winner 16. 1974 Johannesburg, South Africa Hard Frew McMillan Tom Okker
Marty Riessen		 7–6, 6–4, 6–3
Winner 17. 1975 Rotterdam WCT, Netherlands Carpet Frew McMillan José Higueras
Balázs Taróczy		 6–2, 6–2
Winner 18. 1975 Munich WCT, Germany Carpet Frew McMillan Corrado Barazzutti
Antonio Zugarelli		 6–3, 6–4
Winner 19. 1975 Monte Carlo WCT, Monaco Clay Frew McMillan Arthur Ashe
Tom Okker		 6–3, 6–2
Runner-up 6. 1975 Johannesburg WCT, South Africa Hard Frew McMillan Arthur Ashe
Tom Okker		 3–6, 2–6
Runner-up 7. 1975 Tehran, Iran Clay Frew McMillan Juan Gisbert
Manuel Orantes		 5–7, 7–6, 1–6, 4–6
Winner 20. 1975 Stockholm, Sweden Hard (i) Frew McMillan Charlie Pasarell
Roscoe Tanner		 3–6, 6–3, 6–4
Winner 21. 1976 Columbus WCT, U.S. Carpet Frew McMillan Arthur Ashe
Tom Okker		 7–6, 6–4
Winner 22. 1976 Baltimore WCT, U.S. Carpet Frew McMillan Ilie Năstase
Cliff Richey		 3–6, 7–6, 6–4
Runner-up 8. 1976 Philadelphia WCT, U.S. Carpet Frew McMillan Rod Laver
Dennis Ralston		 6–7, 6–7
Winner 23. 1976 Montreal, Canada Hard Raúl Ramírez Juan Gisbert
Manuel Orantes		 6–2, 6–1
Runner-up 9. 1976 San Francisco, U.S. Carpet Brian Gottfried Dick Stockton
Roscoe Tanner		 3–6, 4–6
Runner-up 10. 1976 Madrid, Spain Clay Frew McMillan Wojtek Fibak
Raúl Ramírez		 6–4, 5–7, 3–6
Runner-up 11. 1976 Barcelona, Spain Clay Frew McMillan Brian Gottfried
Raúl Ramírez		 6–7, 4–6
Winner 24. 1976 Vienna, Austria Hard (i) Frew McMillan Brian Gottfried
Raúl Ramírez		 6–4, 4–0 RET
Winner 25. 1976 Cologne, Germany Carpet Frew McMillan Colin Dowdeswell
Mike Estep		 6–1, 3–6, 7–6
Winner 26. 1976 Stockholm, Sweden Hard (i) Frew McMillan Tom Okker
Marty Riessen		 6–4, 4–6, 6–4
Winner 27. 1977 Philadelphia WCT, U.S. Carpet Frew McMillan Wojtek Fibak
Tom Okker		 6–1, 1–6, 6–3
Runner-up 12. 1977 Little Rock, U.S. Carpet Frew McMillan Colin Dibley
Haroon Rahim		 7–6, 3–6, 3–6
Winner 28. 1977 Springfield, U.S. Carpet Frew McMillan Ion Ţiriac
Guillermo Vilas		 7–6, 6–2
Winner 29. 1977 San Jose, U.S. Hard Frew McMillan Tom Gorman
Geoff Masters		 6–2, 6–3
Winner 30. 1977 Palm Springs, U.S. Hard Frew McMillan Marty Riessen
Roscoe Tanner		 7–6, 7–6
Winner 31. 1977 Johannesburg, South Africa Hard Frew McMillan Charlie Pasarell
Erik van Dillen		 6–2, 6–0
Winner 32. 1977 La Costa, U.S. Hard Frew McMillan Ray Ruffels
Allan Stone		 6–4, 6–2
Winner 33. 1977 Los Angeles PSW, U.S. Carpet Frew McMillan Robert Lutz
Stan Smith		 6–3, 6–4
Winner 34. 1977 Jackson, U.S. Carpet Frew McMillan Phil Dent
Ken Rosewall		 6–2, 7–6
Runner-up 13. 1977 Las Vegas, U.S. Hard Raúl Ramírez Robert Lutz
Stan Smith		 3–6, 6–3, 4–6
Winner 35. 1977 Hamburg, Germany Clay Karl Meiler Phil Dent
Kim Warwick		 3–6, 6–3, 6–4, 6–4
Runner-up 14. 1977 Gstaad, Switzerland Clay Colin Dowdeswell Jürgen Fassbender
Karl Meiler		 4–6, 6–7
Runner-up 15. 1977 Cincinnati, U.S. Clay Roscoe Tanner John Alexander
Phil Dent		 3–6, 6–7
Winner 36. 1977 Montreal, Canada Hard Raúl Ramírez Fred McNair
Sherwood Stewart		 6–4, 3–6, 6–2
Winner 37. 1977 U.S. Open, New York Clay Frew McMillan Brian Gottfried
Raúl Ramírez		 6–4, 6–0
Runner-up 16. 1977 Tehran, Iran Clay Frew McMillan Ion Ţiriac
Guillermo Vilas		 6–1, 1–6, 4–6
Winner 38. 1977 Madrid, Spain Clay Frew McMillan Antonio Muñoz
Manuel Orantes		 6–7, 7–6, 6–3, 6–1
Runner-up 17. 1977 Barcelona, Spain Clay Frew McMillan Wojtek Fibak
Jan Kodeš		 0–6, 4–6
Winner 39. 1977 Vienna, Austria Hard (i) Frew McMillan Wojtek Fibak
Jan Kodeš		 6–4, 6–3
Winner 40. 1977 Cologne, Germany Carpet Frew McMillan Fred McNair
Sherwood Stewart		 6–3, 7–5
Winner 41. 1978 Philadelphia WCT, U.S. Carpet Frew McMillan Vitas Gerulaitis
Sandy Mayer		 6–4, 6–4
Winner 42. 1978 Richmond WCT, U.S. Carpet Frew McMillan Vitas Gerulaitis
Sandy Mayer		 6–3, 7–5
Winner 43. 1978 St. Louis WCT, U.S. Carpet Frew McMillan Wojtek Fibak
Tom Okker		 6–3, 6–2
Runner-up 18. 1978 Palm Springs, U.S. Hard Frew McMillan Raymond Moore
Roscoe Tanner		 4–6, 4–6
Winner 44. 1978 Denver, U.S. Carpet Frew McMillan Fred McNair
Sherwood Stewart		 6–3, 6–2
Winner 45. 1978 Johannesburg, South Africa Hard Frew McMillan Colin Dibley
Geoff Masters		 7–5, 7–6
Runner-up 19. 1978 Las Vegas, U.S. Hard Raúl Ramírez Álvaro Fillol
Jaime Fillol		 3–6, 6–7
Winner 46. 1978 London/Queen's Club, England Grass Frew McMillan Fred McNair
Raúl Ramírez		 6–2, 7–5
Winner 47. 1978 Wimbledon, London Grass Frew McMillan Peter Fleming
John McEnroe		 6–1, 6–4, 6–2
Runner-up 20. 1978 Gstaad, Switzerland Clay Kim Warwick Mark Edmondson
Tom Okker		 4–6, 6–1, 1–6, 4–6
Winner 48. 1978 Washington, D.C., U.S. Clay Arthur Ashe Fred McNair
Raúl Ramírez		 6–3, 6–4
Runner-up 21. 1978 Vienna, Austria Hard (i) Frew McMillan Víctor Pecci
Balázs Taróczy		 3–6, 7–6, 4–6
Runner-up 22. 1978 Cologne, Germany Hard (i) Frew McMillan Peter Fleming
John McEnroe		 3–6, 2–6
Runner-up 23. 1978 Johannesburg, South Africa Hard Frew McMillan Peter Fleming
Raymond Moore		 3–6, 6–7
Winner 49. 1979 Båstad, Sweden Clay Heinz Günthardt Mark Edmondson
John Marks		 6–2, 6–2
Runner-up 24. 1979 Toronto, Canada Hard Heinz Günthardt Peter Fleming
John McEnroe		 7–6, 6–7, 1–6
Winner 50. 1979 Basel, Switzerland Hard (i) Frew McMillan Brian Gottfried
Raúl Ramírez		 6–3, 6–4
Winner 51. 1979 Vienna, Austria Hard (i) Frew McMillan Brian Gottfried
Raúl Ramírez		 6–4, 3–6, 6–1
Winner 52. 1979 Johannesburg, South Africa Hard Frew McMillan Mike Cahill
Buster Mottram		 1–6, 6–1, 6–4
Winner 53. 1980 Johannesburg, South Africa Hard Frew McMillan Colin Dowdeswell
Heinz Günthardt		 6–4, 6–3
Winner 54. 1980 Munich, Germany Clay Heinz Günthardt David Carter
Chris Lewis		 7–6, 6–1
Runner-up 25. 1980 Basel, Switzerland Hard (i) Frew McMillan Kevin Curren
Steve Denton		 7–6, 4–6, 4–6

Allegations and conviction of sexual assault and rape
Bob Hewitt
Born
Robert Anthony John Hewitt
Criminal statusImprisoned
Conviction(s)23 March 2015 (guilty plea)
Criminal chargeChild grooming
Sexual activity with a minor
Penalty6 years imprisonment

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.[13] The investigation was prompted by the revelations of a former student in March 2011,[14] She claimed that, beginning in the 1970s, Hewitt abused or harassed her when she was as young as ten years old. Interviews with contemporaries, in the United States and South Africa, indicated that there had been no rumors about misconduct by Hewitt at the time of the alleged events. The South African Tennis Union investigated after 1992, but no legal action was ever taken against Hewitt.[13]

The Boston Globe's 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.

In May 2012, Hewitt's one-time mixed doubles partner Billie Jean King spoke to the Washingtonian, saying "I don't feel good about Bob Hewitt. I played mixed with him. We won the French Open together in 1970. I'm not happy. I am very upset."[15] On 15 November 2012, after months of investigation, Hewitt lost his place in the International Tennis Hall of Fame. "His legacy ceases to exist in the Hall of Fame", said Mark Stenning, executive director of the International Tennis Hall of Fame. "As of today, his plaque will be removed from the Hall of Fame. His name will be removed from our website and all other materials, and from the perspective of the Hall of Fame, he is suspended from the Hall of Fame."[16][17] On 6 April 2016, Hewitt was permanently expelled from the Tennis Hall of Fame.[18]

Conviction

Hewitt was charged in June 2014 with rape of two underage students in the 1980s and 1990s, and went on trial in 2015.[19][20][21] On 23 March 2015, Hewitt was found guilty of two counts of rape and one of sexual assault of minors by the South Gauteng High Court in South Africa, and was sentenced in May to an effective six years in jail.[22][23][24] One of his victims, Theresa "Twiggy" Tolken, was 13 in 1980 when Hewitt, who was her tennis coach, raped her.[25] Heather Crowe Conner of West Newbury was a 14-year-old in 1975 when Hewitt began raping her.[25] Another victim, Suellen Sheehan, was 12 in 1982 when Hewitt assaulted her during a tennis lesson.[25]

Hewitt has been released on parole in April 2020. At the time Hewitt served three years, six months and 22 days of his six-year sentence.[26]

References
  1. United States Lawn Tennis Association (1972). Official Encyclopedia of Tennis (First Edition), p. 428.
  2. Grasso 2011, p. 135.
  3. South African Panorama. South African Information Service. 1973.
  4. "Bob Hewitt sentenced to six years' jail for rape and sexual assault of underage girls in South Africa" - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
  5. Bud Collins; Zander Hollander (1994). Bud Collins' Modern Encyclopedia of Tennis. Visible Ink Press. ISBN 978-0-8103-9443-8.
  6. World Tennis. CBS Publications. 1981.
  7. "Ex-tennis champion Bob Hewitt jailed for rape in South Africa". ABC News. 18 May 2015. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  8. John Grasso (2011). Historical Dictionary of Tennis. Scarecrow Press. p. 135. ISBN 978-0-8108-7237-0.
  9. Huntsdale, Justin (17 March 2011). "Tennis great Bob Hewitt returns to Dubbo". www.abc.net.au. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  10. Grasso, John (16 September 2011). Historical Dictionary of Tennis. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 978-0-8108-7237-0.
  11. "Ex-tennis star Bob Hewitt guilty of raping girls in South Africa". Retrieved 23 March 2015.
  12. "Tennis Hall of Fame removes Bob Hewitt - The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  13. Hohler, Bob (28 August 2011). "Tennis star trailed by allegations of abuse". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 28 August 2011.
  14. Solis, Jennifer (24 March 2011). "Ex-board member recounts sexual assaults". Daily News. Newburyport, Massachusetts. Retrieved 28 August 2011.
  15. "A Conversation With Billie Jean King | Washingtonian (DC)". Washingtonian. 30 May 2012. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  16. Bob Hohler (15 November 2012). "Tennis Hall of Fame removes Bob Hewitt". The Boston Globe.
  17. "Abuse claims cost former tennis champion Bob Hewitt his place in sport's Hall of Fame". The Australian. 16 November 2012.
  18. "Ex-tennis champ Bob Hewitt's appeal on rape conviction rejected". USA TODAY. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  19. "Bob Hewitt found guilty of rape". News24. 23 March 2015. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  20. "Ex-tennis star charged with rape". BBC News. 6 June 2014. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  21. Laing, Aislinn (9 June 2016). "Tennis champion Bob Hewitt loses child rape appeal". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  22. Bob Hewitt found guilty of rape | News24
  23. Bob Hewitt gets effective six years in jail
  24. Tennis champion Bob Hewitt loses child rape appeal
  25. Former tennis star Bob Hewitt ordered imprisoned - The Boston Globe
  26. "Convicted rapist Bob Hewitt released on parole". News24. 24 April 2020. Retrieved 26 May 2020.

Reference bibliography
  • Grasso, John (2011). "Hewitt, Robert Anthony John "Bob"". Historical Dictionary of Tennis. Historical Dictionaries of Sports. Scarecrow Press. pp. 135–136. ISBN 9780810872370.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
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