More off-court drama as Hewitt's ex-manager quizzed
January 10, 2007 12:00am
Article from:
POLICE are investigating Lleyton Hewitt's sacked manager over allegations he ripped off the tennis star.
The Herald Sun last night learned Rob Aivatoglou was recently interviewed by Melbourne detectives.
He was released without being charged.
It is believed the Hewitt camp complained to police about the former manager's alleged activities.
The Herald Sun understands the fraud allegations against Mr Aivatoglou relate to his employment with Hewitt.
"They relate to his employment with Hewitt and involve alleged misappropriation of money and related offences," a source said.
It has been alleged the manager was involved in several irregularities in travel expenses and his handling of Hewitt memorabilia.
The source said the information had only recently come to light and the investigation was in its early stages.
Mr Aivatoglou is expected to be interviewed again by detectives after they check out other information they have received recently.
It is understood that Hewitt's father, Glynn Hewitt, spent several hours with Victoria Police detailing widespread allegations of fraud involving Mr Aivatoglou.
In October, Mr Aivatoglou was abruptly sacked by Hewitt.
Last night, Glynn Hewitt was tight-lipped, telling the Herald Sun, "I can't comment on it."
"No, I can't comment on it, mate. Sorry," Mr Hewitt said.
"Mate, I'm not saying anything. I've got no comments to make on it.
"Mate, I'm not verifying. I'm not clarifying or whatever, anything about it."
In October last year, it was reported that the Hewitts had dismissed Mr Aivatoglou after he clashed with Glynn Hewitt over unspecified matters.
At that time, Mr Hewitt said: "We're looking at different business and management models as we look ahead with excitement to the next phase of Lleyton's career."
Last night, the Herald Sun asked Mr Aivatoglou about the allegations.
He said, "I have no comment.
"I don't wish to be quoted."
Classic offer for underdone Hewitt January 9
- January 09, 2007
A SEVERELY underdone Lleyton Hewitt has been tossed a lifeline by Kooyong Classic promoter Colin Stubs.
Stubs is willing to sandwich an exhibition match for Hewitt into the Classic's program, which starts tomorrow.
But it would require Hewitt to approach Stubs and also would need the approval of organisers of this week's Sydney International from which Hewitt withdrew, citing a calf strain.
The former world No.1 has played only two tournament matches in the past four months and risks a hefty fine by playing elsewhere without permission.
"We would try to help him out. As long as I don't ruffle any feathers by doing so, I'm very happy to co-operate in that way," Stubs said yesterday.
The promoter has regularly arranged match practice for players who choose to set up early in Melbourne. He has several players, including Adelaide winner Novak Djokovic and world No. 10, Chilean Fernando Gonzalez, on standby if injury or illness affects one of the eight talented players in his field.
"If you pull out of a particular tournament, for whatever reason, and then front up at another tournament the same week, naturally, the ATP don't take too kindly to that," Stubs said.
"But, equally, if the tournament is satisfied that the party has completed his obligation to the best of his ability, then the supervisor can release the guy to another event. We don't pay any money to anyone who falls into that category."
Hewitt has never played the Classic at Kooyong, which has prepared most of the Australian Open champions for nearly 20 years.
"I don't know exactly what the reason is. As far as I'm aware, there's no problem in any way. It's just that he has chosen in the past to pursue an alternative preparation," Stubs said.
"I'm always saying, 'Well, this is the only thing he hasn't tried and it mightn't be a bad idea at some stage to give it a crack'."
Hewitt's appearance at the Adelaide International last week was his first tournament since falling to Andy Roddick in the US Open quarter-finals in early September.
Stubs has already guaranteed two best-of-three-sets matches for Djokovic and Gonzalez later this week.
Young Briton Andy Murray was the last of the eight players to arrive in Melbourne on Sunday night, while early birds Roger Federer, Roddick and Marat Safin continuing practice sessions at Melbourne Park yesterday.
"The eight players have been solid for the last six months. And I've got someone like Gonzalez who's itching to play," Stubs said.
"Murray had a hit here last year and he looked good. I still had a question mark over whether he would step up into the big league. But he has had a hell of a year and became almost an automatic choice."
Stubs said it appeared Argentina No.1 David Nalbandian had recovered from knee soreness. "It's all quiet on the western front there. I've put a call in just to double check with him, but I haven't heard back. So I'm assuming he's right to go," he said.
He said the Rebound Ace court in Kooyong's main stadium would provide identical playing conditions for the Open, starting next Monday.
Sorry mate: Rafter refuses
- January 09, 2007
JUST hours after Roger Rasheed's sudden resignation, Lleyton Hewitt asked his idol, Pat Rafter, to become his new coach, but got knocked back.
Rafter's fellow Queenslander Scott Draper, one of Hewitt's closest friends, was yesterday confirmed as Rasheed's replacement as coach.
"The role will be open-ended and we will see how things unfold over the next two weeks," Hewitt's manager Justin Cohen said.
Draper, 32, is expected to arrive in Sydney today or tomorrow to start work with Hewitt, who is nursing a torn calf.
Rafter said last night: "I did think about helping out Lleyton but it was impossible."
Formerly ranked No.42 in the world, Draper retired from tennis two years ago to become a professional golfer.
He recently regained his Australasian PGA Tour card, but is now temporarily placing his new career on hold to help his mate.
While Draper landed the plum role from a select group of potential coaches - both short and long-term - the approach to Rafter briefly heralded the possibility of a superstar alliance.
But Rafter said after turning down his mate: "I won't be in Melbourne for the Open because we're moving house and I can't get around it. We move on Monday."
Rafter is transferring from Sydney back to Queensland with his wife Lara and children Joshua and India.
Hewitt telephoned Rafter in Sydney on Friday to ask the dual US Open champion to return to the circuit for the first time in six years.
Rafter, 34, was forced out of tennis because of chronic arm soreness after reaching two Wimbledon finals and the world No.1 mantle.
He first met Hewitt in 1997 and the pair clicked immediately, with Rafter taking 15-year-old Hewitt to the beach to recover after toppling Frenchman Cedric Pioline in a Davis Cup epic.
Spotting Hewitt's rare skills, ambition and potential, Rafter took the South Australian tyro under his wing and passed on as much about the game as he could.
Rafter believes strongly in the famed Australian chain of information where champions of one generation nurture those of the next.
He was taught by John Newcombe and Tony Roche and willingly spent time with Hewitt during the prodigy's rapid rise up the ranking's ladder.
But when Rafter's career ended with a doubles loss alongside Hewitt in the 2001 Davis Cup final to France on grass at Melbourne Park, one of the modern greats distanced himself from the sport.
While maintaining discreet contact with his peers, Rafter began a new life.
But the Queenslander has now moved back a little closer to the sport which he graced with tremendous sportsmanship.
Last year he was appointed ambassador to Tennis Australia's Hot Shots program, which is designed to engage 50,000 children in the sport.
Rafter last month took over as publisher of Australian Tennis magazine.
Draper and Hewitt have been friends for several years and enjoy a close rapport.
Draper remains one of the most inspirational, earthy figures in international sport and is a figure Hewitt trusts unconditionally.
Diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder, Draper advanced to win the 1998 Queen's Club title, the tournament Hewitt has subsequently won four times, and has dealt courageously with tragedy.
Draper's first wife died from cystic fibrosis in 1999. He has since remarried Jessica Kersten.
Rasheed resigned over an inability to continue in "the current environment".
Draper is viewed within the Hewitt camp as the perfect solution in a climate of upheaval and stress.
Draper to tee-up with Hewitt
- January 09, 2007
FACED with a major title drought, an unbeatable rival and the abrupt loss of a coach and friend from his entourage, Lleyton Hewitt has gone back to where it all began.
Back in the summer of 1998, when Hewitt was a little-known, frizzy-haired 16-year-old trying to fist-pump his way onto the professional tour, it was Draper he first encountered on the opposite side of the net at Adelaide's Memorial Drive.
Hewitt was ranked No.550 in the world and Draper 58. The match that followed wasn't even close.
In a little over an hour, Draper became victim No.1 in a career that quickly elevated Hewitt to the top of the tennis heap at breath-taking speed.
That week in Adelaide, a week that culminated in Hewitt beating his boyhood idol Andre Agassi and future coach Jason Stoltenberg to win his maiden ATP title, was the first in which Hewitt took men's tennis by storm.
Yesterday, Draper agreed to help Hewitt weather a storm of a different kind as fill-in coach for next week's Australian Open.
In little more than one tumultuous month, Hewitt has sacked his business manager, lost an early round match in Adelaide to Russian Igor Kunitsyn, strained his calf on the eve of the year's first major tournament, withdrawn from his regular warm-up event and been sacked by his coach of three and a half years, friend and one-time fitness adviser Roger Rasheed.
While Rasheed has not publicly detailed the reasons for his snap decision, they are understood to centre on the courtside abuse he was regularly subjected to whilst on the Hewitt payroll.
In a diplomatically worded statement, Rasheed said: "within the current environment, I don't believe it is possible for us to get the results we are looking for."
Hewitt abusing coaches is not new. The same behaviour prompted Darren Cahill to quit after guiding Hewitt to the world No.1 ranking and later influenced Stoltenberg's exit from the Hewitt camp.
But the predicament Hewitt now finds himself in is frustratingly unfamiliar.
Not since 1999 has he ended a year clinging to the laces of the world's best 20 players. It is five years since he won the second of his grand slam titles and four years since he last beat Roger Federer, the defending champion at Melbourne Park.
Last year was the first since 2003 that Hewitt failed to reach at least the semi-finals of a grand slam tournament.
Tellingly, the slump began in earnest in Melbourne last year, when he struggled to get past Czech Robin Vik in the first round after early exits in Adelaide and Sydney.
Rarely had Hewitt appeared so hesitant on a tennis court. Rarely has he produced his best game since.
Draper doesn't consider himself the man to turn Hewitt's career around. Rather than contemplating a new career as a full-time, travelling tennis coach, Draper sees himself merely as helping out a mate in a pinch.
Now that he is making his way as a golfer, Draper has no ambition to return to life on the tennis tour, whether for Hewitt or any other player.
Hewitt's manager, Justin Cohen, last night issued a statement describing the agreement as "open-ended".
"We will see how things unfold over the next two weeks," the statement said.
"Scott is a very positive and level-headed individual and we are very happy to have him on board."
Hewitt and Draper are good friends away from tennis and are regular golf partners.
But, if they are to get along in the hothouse environment of an Australian Open, Hewitt will need to control his on-court temper and curb his tongue.
While Hewitt is renowned as one of the more abrasive figures on the men's tour, Draper was one of the most amicable.
It is understood Hewitt is recovering well from the calf strain that hampered his performance in Adelaide and plans to begin work with Draper in Melbourne as early as tomorrow.
Scott Draper to coach Lleyton Hewitt January 8
SYDNEY, Australia: Lleyton Hewitt's former
Davis Cup teammate, Scott Draper, will coach the
former two-time Grand Slam champion at least
until the end of the Australian Open.While Cohen described the arrangement as "open-ended," Draper, an aspiring golf professional, told Channel Nine television he wasn't considering coaching Hewitt beyond the Australian Open which ends Jan. 28.
"Lleyton is a passionate competitor, we all know what he is like on the court," said Draper. "I've never had one issue, I get on well with his family."
While the appointment helps Hewitt ahead of the Australian Open beginning Monday, it has surprised Australian golf officials, who are expecting Draper to play in this month's Victorian PGA event.
Having lost his Australasian Tour card last year, Draper regained it at qualifying school in December and is among the 118 exempt players required to contest the tournament being held from Jan. 25-28 at Melbourne's Sanctuary Lakes layout.
The Australian Open final is on Jan. 27, so if Hewitt makes the semifinals, Draper may find himself in a position similar to 2005 when he was forced to make a series of quick trips between Melbourne Park and Kingston Heath golf club to fulfill tennis and golf commitments.
Draper won the Australian Open mixed doubles title in 2005 with fellow Australian Samantha Stosur on the same weekend that he failed to qualify for the Heineken Classic golf tournament.
The 32-year-old Draper has since devoted full attention to golf, competing not only in Australasia but also on the secondary Nationwide tour in the United States.
Rasheed decided he could no longer work with the former U.S. Open and Wimbledon champion after arguing with Hewitt after the Australian lost to 94th-ranked Igor Kunitsyn of Russia at last week's Adelaide International.
Hewitt will head into the Australian Open having played just two singles matches in four months after withdrawing from this week's Sydney International with a torn calf muscle.
Hewitt pulls out of Sydney
Linda Pearce, Adelaide
January 6, 2007
Lleyton Hewitt has withdrawn from the Sydney International, citing a calf injury, hours after his coach Roger Rasheed's abrupt resignation following Hewitt's ignominious and accusatory exit from the Adelaide International.
A coaching association that began in mid-2003 when Hewitt was the world No. 1 has ended with the former Wimbledon and US Open champion barely clinging to a place in the top 20. Thursday night's loss to 94th-ranked Russian Igor Kunitsyn severed a relationship that started in its present form when Jason Stoltenberg resigned in 2003 and Rasheed was promoted from his role as fitness trainer.
Stoltenberg had followed Darren Cahill, the architect of Hewitt's rise from precocious teen to world No. 1, who quit at the end of 2001 over reported tensions with Hewitt's father, Glynn.
Tensions were apparent during the surprise loss at Memorial Drive, with Hewitt berating his coach at courtside - not an unusual occurrence in itself, admittedly - after squandering a 6-4, 3-1 lead and retreating into the tentative, defensive mindset that has proved so costly in recent times.
In a statement released by Rasheed's sister, Hitaf, the media manager for AFL club Port Adelaide, Rasheed said he had given Hewitt written notice yesterday of his decision to terminate his contract. What is not known is how much effort was made to retain Rasheed.
"This is the hardest decision I've ever had to make, but one I felt I had no choice but to make," he said. "Within the current environment, I don't believe it is possible for us to get the results we are looking for.
"The timing is not ideal, but I feel that it is in both of our best interests that this decision not be delayed. I love the guy. I still believe he's one of the greatest talents in professional tennis and most ferocious competitors in the game.
"I believe in Lleyton as a player and still believe he's capable of winning grand slams, but I feel the only way I can make a positive change to his environment, and mine, is to walk away from one of the great coaching jobs."
Rasheed, 37, described as "extremely rewarding and challenging" his time with Hewitt, a close friend and fellow South Australian. He said he was prepared to travel in a similar role with another player despite having recently become a father for the first time.
"I absolutely love the sport of tennis and look forward to the opportunity to be involved in a coaching role in the future," he said. "I wish Lleyton all the very best of luck."
Hewitt travelled to Sydney yesterday, having said earlier he intended to "just worry about the first round at the moment, just concentrate on hopefully getting off to a good start there and, at this stage, just getting as many matches as possible.
"There are small areas in my game that I want to work on, though, for over a week's time (at the Australian Open)."
Search for positives
January 06, 2007 12:00am
Chastened by a 6-4, 6-7 (4-7), 4-6 loss to Russian Igor Kunitsyn in Adelaide, Hewitt admitted he had retreated into a defensive shell when he had the match at his mercy when leading 3-1 in the second set.
Stung by a failure to serve out the match at 6-5 in the same set and then squandering a 3-0 tiebreak lead, Hewitt now urgently seeks greater conviction after a long injury lay-off.
"Obviously the Australian Open in a week's time is the main focus so it would have been great to do better here and put myself into contention," he said after a sub-standard serving performance.
"There are areas of my game that I want to work on to be ready in a week's time.
"I got some matches (in Adelaide) and that can't be a bad thing.
"You can't come out and expect to play your best tennis this early.
"I don't think anyone in the draw is playing exceptional tennis. It's a matter of trying to get through those matches and get better and get acclimatised to the conditions.
"You can't emulate matchplay in practice. It doesn't matter how many practice sets you play.
"It's different when you get into a match situation under pressure on the big occasion, and that's what you want to do as much as possible before a Grand Slam."
"I've just got to go back and hopefully do well in Sydney next week."
The winner of four Sydney crowns, Hewitt wants to avoid a repeat of the Kunitsyn implosion - which coincided with a terminal serving lapse. "When I was dictating on my serve, I was getting a lot more cheap points," he said.
"When I gave him an opportunity on my second serve, that's when he stepped up and played a lot better.
"It was an awkward situation.
"(I'll) worry about getting through that first round in Sydney and try to get as many matches before Melbourne as possible," he said.
"I've always played well in Sydney, so I hope it's no different."
Hewitt's failure to advance to the quarter-finals in Adelaide leaves the former world No. 1 with only one more chance to win the event that launched his career in 1998.
The tournament will move to the new Tennyson complex in Brisbane in 2009, amalgamating with the Mondial Women's Hardcourts currently staged at the Gold Coast.
"I'd love to see the tournament stay here but Tennis Australia didn't have a lot of choices," he said.
"Their hands were tied a little bit with what the Queensland Government was trying to do, putting that much money into our sport.
"That can only help nationally, as much as it hurts not having a tournament in your home town."
Jan 6
A POST-MATCH confrontation between Lleyton Hewitt and Roger Rasheed is believed to have effectively ended one of the closest partnerships in Australian tennis.
Rasheed is known to be distressed by aspects of Hewitt's behaviour, including verbal barbs directed at him and other support staff, during Hewitt's upset loss to Russian Igor Kunitsyn on Thursday night. Hewitt lost 6-4 6-7 (4-7) 4-6, after leading 3-1 in the second set.A frustrated Hewitt made several comments which were clearly audible to spectators sitting near Rasheed, Hewitt's wife, Bec, and the couple's manager, Justin Cohen.
It is believed Rasheed and Hewitt had a brief, heated exchange about his behaviour in a deserted locker room at Memorial Drive after the match.
Rasheed sought counsel from several trusted allies yesterday before driving to Hewitt's West Lakes home.
There, following a brief conversation, Rasheed tendered his resignation.
Hewitt is believed to have been stunned by Rasheed's decision to walk after almost four years in the job. The Wimbledon and US Open winner has often raved about Rasheed's dedication, loyalty and friendship.
Rasheed has been no less warm about Hewitt. Rasheed would not confirm reports last night that his resignation had been prompted by sledging from Hewitt, one of the world's fiercest competitors.
But he is known to have raised the matter with Hewitt in the off-season, stressing the need for a clear mind in the heat of battle.
"Today I have given Lleyton Hewitt written notice of termination of my contractual arrangements with him," Rasheed said in a statement.
"This is the hardest decision I've ever had to make, but one I felt I had no choice but to make.
"Within the current environment, I don't believe it is possible for us to get the results we are looking for.
"The timing is not ideal, but I feel that it is in both of our best interests that this decision not be delayed."
Rasheed's resignation leaves Hewitt without a mentor for the Australian Open, but there was immediate speculation last night that former Davis Cup coach Wally Masur would be a candidate -- if he is available. Hewitt flies to Sydney today in search of more matches, a more positive approach and a fifth Sydney International title.
Lleyton flexes Open muscles
- December 28, 2006
LLEYTON Hewitt accelerated a smooth Australian Open preparation with a marathon practice session in Adelaide yesterday.
Bristling with fitness, the former world No.1 slogged for two-and-a-half hours before hitting the gym for 45 minutes with coach Roger Rasheed.
Wimbledon and US Open winner Hewitt believes a comprehensive training regimen will have him approaching peak condition at Melbourne Park next month for the first grand slam of the season.
More immediately, the South Australian is intent on claiming a third hometown title in Adelaide over the next week and then, incredibly, a fifth Sydney title in six years.
Hewitt will become one of the sport's pioneers from Sunday when the Next Generation Adelaide International ushers in a combined format of traditional elimination and round-robin.
As one of the tournament's high seeds, Hewitt will be shunted straight into the round-robin phase where he will await one of the eight winners from first-round elimination.
The surviving 24 players, led by 2005 champion Joachim Johansson and Frenchman Richard Gasquet, will then play two matches each in eight groups of three to decide the quarter-finalists.
Hewitt believes he is on track to regain full fitness after ankle and knee problems led to a rankings retreat from No.4 to 20th - and forced him off the circuit in September.
"The body has to come first and even when I wasn't able to hit tennis balls or get on a treadmill or run much, I've still been able to do other stuff to try and give me that backbone I need going into the summer this time," he said.
"There's no secret as to why I made the final two years ago of the Australian Open and won Sydney and had such a great run.
"It was because I'd made a lot of sacrifices and put a lot of effort into the weeks leading into the three tournaments and, pretty much, we're going for the same system this year."
Hewitt's former doubles partner Nathan Healey will today square off against Canberra's Alun Jones in search of the last wildcard into the Adelaide International.
An Australian Open revelation this year, Healey downed Robert Smeets before dispatching youngster Nick Lindahl 6-4 6-1 to reach today's final.
Jones, who already has an Australian Open wildcard as the winner of the Kia Pro Tour, beat Andrew Coehlo 6-1 6-0 before edging out luckless Paul Baccanello 4-6 6-1 11-9 (match tiebreak).
Victorian Wayne Arthurs has been guaranteed a place in qualifying after bypassing the playoff.
On the brink of direct qualifying inclusion with a ranking of 161st in the world, Arthurs is sweating on the sign-on deadline.
But, as a Davis Cup regular, Arthurs has been told by organisers he will be part of the 16-man qualifying event as a wildcard entrant even if he misses out on direct acceptance.
If the field does open up and presents Arthurs with a spot, it will allow Tennis Australia to use the wildcard on another Australian.
Luczak learns from Lleyton
10dec06
A 10-DAY training sojourn with Lleyton Hewitt is what Peter Luczak hopes
will have him primed to secure an Australian Open wildcard.
The Victorian has bypassed the Australian Open training camp which
starts today and is set to start his journey towards a top 100 ranking
at the Australian Open wildcard playoffs next weekend at Melbourne Park.
Luczak, his wife Katarina and their six-month-old son Sebastian are
staying with the Hewitts at their Sydney home until Thursday.
"We just wake up, get out of bed and roll onto the tennis court," Luczak
said. "You can't get much better practice than practising with Lleyton.
He's the best guy going around at the moment so it's a bit of a
privilege really, to be up here and practising three or four hours a
day.
"We see each other a few times throughout the year and he just said, 'Do
you want to come up and do some training'. So it's perfect for me."
Luczak endured a frustrating year after being struck down by pneumonia
and then having to choose between family or a coach on tour.
He missed most of his favoured claycourt tournaments and recently took a
break to solely work on fitness. He said: "It was difficult when I had a
baby and I had to choose that or a coach, otherwise it gets too
expensive."
"I'm going with the family option and I'm trying to work around
tournaments where there are other Aussies because then I've got people
to practice with.
"I worked hard in the gym with South Australian Shannon Nettle and I'm
feeling really good."
Luczak, 27, will contest tournaments in Adelaide and Sydney before
hopefully getting the chance to better the third-round appearance he
managed at last year's Open.
His goal is to close the gaping hole in men's tennis with Hewitt the
only top-ranked Australian in the world. By doing that he hopes to snare
the second singles spot in Davis Cup.
"It is a good opportunity at the moment," Luczak said. "Other than
Lleyton there's no one else really in the top 100. If you can do well
and break through into the top 100 I'm sure Tennis Australia will be
willing to help you out a lot.
"And also, there's a good chance to secure your spot in the Davis Cup
team for the next few years."
Hewitt aces cool $1m Nov 3
LLEYTON Hewitt's father Glynn has emerged as the undisputed power player of the Hewitt clan, striking a $1 million-plus magazine deal for his television star daughter-in-law Bec and managing the affairs of the tennis star.
The former Home and Away actress has signed on for another 12 months
of riveting diary entries in Woman's Day, giving it photographic access
to her daughter Mia as she grows between the ages of one and two.
It is understood the deal is worth about $1.3 million _ and it was
Hewitt Sr in the negotiating chair to ensure there will be no problem
with putting bread on the table at the young couple's Kenthurst
property.
The former Wimbledon and US Open champ's dad was also the driving force
behind Bec's return to television, a hosting role on Channel 9's
upcoming ABBA Mania special.
Hewitt Sr, for a long time the controlling influence in Hewitt's affairs
and a director of Lleyton Hewitt Marketing, has taken on management
duties for his son after the axing of his previous manager and
mouthpiece, Rob Aivatoglou, this week.
Bec Hewitt's new contract with the ACP flagship is an extension of a
previous exclusive 12-month deal, which began with her writing the first
of her diary entries last November while eight months pregnant.
She and Hewitt had previously sold their engagement and wedding stories
to rival New Idea, with the deals from both stables reported to have
totalled more than $1.6 million.
Team Hewitt says father knows best Nov 28
LLEYTON Hewitt has abruptly sacked the agent appointed barely 18 months ago to manage his affairs, magnifying the already-powerful influence of his father, Glynn, who has assumed all managerial responsibilities, at least in the short-term.
Rob Aivatoglou was poached by the Hewitts from his job as Cricket Australia's commercial affairs manager in March, 2005, to establish Lleyton Hewitt Marketing at its new headquarters in South Yarra. The business based itself on the model established by Greg Norman's Great White Shark Enterprises, Norman and Hewitt having developed a close friendship in recent years.
At the time, Glynn Hewitt reportedly said he expected Aivatoglou to "further Lleyton's interests as an Australia-based personal manager, 24/7, seven days a week".
With his father behind the scenes firmly pulling all the strings that mattered, Hewitt, 25, had previously been managed by Octagon for eight years, having been recruited to the Australian branch of the management company by Aivatoglou, a former employee.
No official reason has been given for the axing, but it is believed that Glynn is handling all inquiries, at least for now. Cherilyn Hewitt yesterday answered the company mobile phone that had been used by Aivatoglou, and suggested The Age contact the agent at his home.
Asked to confirm Aivatoglou's sacking, Cherilyn Hewitt said: "No comment, sorry."
Only last month, Aivatoglou travelled to Buenos Aires for the Davis Cup semi-final as part of the Hewitt entourage that included Glynn, coach Roger Rasheed and Hewitt's father-in-law Darrel Cartwright. With the Hewitts famously reluctant to talk to any but the most sympathetic media outlets, Aivatoglou was the family spokesman while looking after general management duties and business matters.
It is believed he was told of his sacking in Melbourne last Tuesday. Aivatoglou did not return calls yesterday.
The latest change to Team Hewitt comes at a time when the 2002 Wimbledon champion is struggling to keep in touch with the men's top 10. Rasheed was promoted from fitness trainer to coach after Jason Stoltenberg's brief but successful tenure ended unhappily in 2003. Before that, Darren Cahill had taken the ultra-determined youngster from the Adelaide suburb of West Lakes to his first grand slam title — the 2001 US Open — and to the world No. ranking he held for 75 consecutive weeks.
Hewitt is now ranked 18th and, partly due to a string of injuries, has won just one tournament — on grass at Queen's Club in June — in almost two years. He has played just one match since the US Open in September and will not resume from an extended break to treat patella tendonitis until his home tournament in Adelaide in January.
In marketing terms, the Australian No. 1 ranks well below the still-in-demand Pat Rafter, who retired after the 2001 Davis Cup final.
A former South Adelaide and Richmond footballer, Glynn Hewitt is an experienced businessman well-qualified to manage his son's fortune, estimated at $33 million by BRW this year. Officially Australia's 31st-richest person and the youngest in the top 100, Hewitt has official career earnings of $21,606,235, a lucrative endorsement deal with Yonex having replaced a long-term association with Nike.
Meanwhile, Sydney teenager Greg Jones has won his first ITF singles title, claiming the Thailand Open without dropping a set.
