Hewitt Takes Wimbledon Doubles Wild Card

The competitive fire still burns strong for Lleyton Hewitt. The former World No. 1 and 2002 Wimbledon champion will return to the All England Club to play doubles alongside countryman Jordan Thompson.

Hewitt, who hung up his racquet at the Australian Open in January, capping a legendary 18-year career, owns an 8-6 doubles record at Wimbledon. His first appearance came in 1999, reaching the third round with Roger Federer. Thompson, who broke into the Top 100 in singles last month, is making his Wimbledon debut.

The Aussies are one of six doubles teams to receive wild card entry into the main draw, including #NextGen star Kyle Edmund and fellow Brit James Ward, along with 2012 doubles champion Jonathan Marray and Canada’s Adil Shamasdin. Hewitt will also lend his expert services in the commentary booth for the BBC.

In addition, six of the eight singles main draw wild cards were announced. Dustin Brown, champion at the ATP Challenger Tour grass-court event in Manchester, joins former World No. 8 Radek Stepanek and home hopes Liam Broady, Brydan Klein, Alexander Ward and James Ward.