Four-time champion Lleyton Hewitt would welcome the return of the storied Sydney International as officers mull over the long run format of the Australian summer season of tennis.
COVID-19 has triggered havoc to the annual program of occasions, with the ATP Cup lasting solely three years and the Sydney International and hugely-popular Brisbane International additionally victims of the pandemic.
Formerly often known as the NSW Open and established in 1885, the Sydney International was the second-oldest operating tennis event on the earth and boasted an honour roll to rival even Wimbledon.
From war-time champions like John Bromwich and Adrian Quist to Nineteen Fifties and 60s legends Frank Sedgman, Lew Hoad and Ken Rosewall to modern-day greats together with Pete Sampras and Roger Federer, the winners’ board at Sydney Olympic Park is a who’s who of tennis.
The checklist of girls’s champions is equally star-studded, that includes the likes of Margaret Court, Evonne Goolagong Cawley, Billie-Jean King, Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert.
It’s understood Tennis Australia was pushing for the Sydney International to be restored to the calendar this yr and staged after the inaugural United Cup combined groups’ occasion presently being performed at Ken Rosewall Arena in addition to group ties in Brisbane and Perth.
There was obvious pushback, although, from the WTA and ATP Tours, with two editions of the Adelaide International the popular selection for 2023.
But within the ever-changing panorama, officers are already rethinking the 2024 summer season calendar with the Sydney International mentioned to be a robust contender to exchange the second Adelaide International and held the week after the United Cup.
Champion in 2000, 2001, 2004 and 2005, Hewitt actually would not be opposed, nor would Alex de Minaur, who received his maiden ATP title in his residence metropolis in 2019.
“I always had a really soft spot for the tournament here. I loved the Sydney International,” Hewitt informed AAP.
“The first couple of times I played it at White City I thought it was special and with unbelievable fields.
“Then coming right here as a coach in a while and seeing Alex win it and seeing how a lot it meant for him.
“So it’s hard because it was such a great tournament.”
Hewitt, although, is life like sufficient to know pulling collectively one other new schedule can be logistically tough with countless stakeholders concerned.
“All (possibilities) are slightly up in the air. I guess after COVID there’s been a whole lot of changes in the cities and everything as well,” mentioned Australia’s Davis Cup skipper and United Cup co-captain.
“So I guess everyone has to sort of sit back and breathe and have a good luck at everything and see where everything falls.
“But I cherished the Sydney event. Mind you, I cherished Adelaide and I cherished Brisbane so I loved enjoying all these tournaments.”
