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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders both past and present.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that this website contains images of deceased persons.

The Gallery’s Acknowledgement of Country, and information on culturally sensitive and restricted content and the use of historic language in the collection can be found here.

Lleyton Hewitt

1998
Robin Sellick

type C photograph on paper (sheet: 61.6 cm x 50.7 cm, image: 47.5 cm x 40.5 cm)

Lleyton Hewitt AM (b. 1981) was ranked world number 1 at tennis for 80 weeks between 2001 and 2003, and retired with two Grand Slam titles and 30 career titles. His many victories include Wimbledon (2002) and the US Open (2001); and he was a member of Australia’s winning Davis Cup teams in 2003 and 1999. He won the Queen’s Club tournament in London four times. He was Most Popular South Australian in 2001, South Australian Young Australian of the Year in 2002, and Young Australian of the Year in 2003. Renowned as a fighter and a dogged self-motivator on court, he retained an enviable world tennis ranking despite contending with various injuries, and was still in the top 100 players worldwide in 2011 and again in 2013. He retired from the Grand Slam circuit in 2016, but has since made various comebacks and wildcard appearances.

Robin Sellick saw the young Hewitt playing in Adelaide and recognised his talent and ambition. He invited him to his home, an old North Adelaide mansion. Hewitt relaxed by hitting some balls at the photographer in the hallway. They went out onto the balcony, Sellick asked Hewitt to sit and look like he was thinking about how to win a game, and this shot was the result.

Gift of the artist 2004
© Robin Sellick

The National Portrait Gallery respects the artistic and intellectual property rights of others. Works of art from the collection are reproduced as per the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). The use of images of works from the collection may be restricted under the Act. Requests for a reproduction of a work of art can be made through a Reproduction request. For further information please contact NPG Copyright.

Artist and subject

Robin Sellick (age 31 in 1998)

Lleyton Hewitt AM (age 17 in 1998)

Subject professions

Sports and recreation

Donated by

Robin Sellick (5 portraits)

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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders past and present. We respectfully advise that this site includes works by, images of, names of, voices of and references to deceased people.

This website comprises and contains copyrighted materials and works. Copyright in all materials and/or works comprising or contained within this website remains with the National Portrait Gallery and other copyright owners as specified.

The National Portrait Gallery respects the artistic and intellectual property rights of others. The use of images of works of art reproduced on this website and all other content may be restricted under the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). Requests for a reproduction of a work of art or other content can be made through a Reproduction request. For further information please contact NPG Copyright.

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