Hewitt to headline Adelaide International
Former world No.1 and two-time Grand Slam singles champion Lleyton Hewitt will headline the player field for
the Adelaide International in 2007, co-tournament director Peter Johnston announced today.
The Next Generation Adelaide International will take place from Monday 1 – Sunday 7 January 2007 at
Memorial Drive in Adelaide, South Australia.
“Playing at Memorial Drive in front of my hometown is always a great way to start off the New Year,” Hewitt
said.
“Obviously Adelaide is where I broke through for my first professional title and I just love playing
here.
“It’s so important to get your preparation right for a Grand Slam and I think starting the year at Adelaide
will set me up for a strong Australian Open campaign,” he said.
Speaking about the announcement, Peter Johnston said, “Both Mark [Woodforde] and I feel that it is a ‘must’
to have Lleyton, arguably South Australia’s greatest ever player, competing in his hometown event and we’re
thrilled that he’s confirmed.
“We had an absolutely bumper tournament in 2006, with record crowds enjoying the on-court action and
off-court entertainment at the Adelaide International.
“This announcement lays the foundation for what will be a huge first tournament of the tennis year, with
more player announcements to come, along with some major initiatives which will build on last year’s
outstanding event,” Johnston said.
Hewitt won his first ATP Tour in Adelaide as a 16-year-old in 1998. The win made Hewitt the youngest Tour
winner (16 years, 10 months) since Michael Chang in 1988 and the lowest ranked winner (No. 550) in Tour
history.
The victory in Adelaide was the start of big things for the South Australian. Hewitt went on to claim 24
more singles titles including the US Open in 2001 and Wimbledon in 2002; hold the world No.1 ranking in
back-to-back seasons in 2001 and 2002; and helped Australia to four Davis Cup finals in five years.
This year Hewitt won his fourth Queen’s Club title, reached back-to-back finals in San Jose and Las Vegas,
and made quarterfinal appearances at the US Open, Wimbledon, Washington and the Sydney International.
Tickets for the Adelaide International will go on sale through Venuetix on Wednesday 11 October.
| 
