What Lleyton Hewitt thought was “self-defence” last year has spiraled into far worse consequences than he could have imagined. The second half of the tennis season typically brings rivalries, rankings drama, and on-court tension. But this time, the spotlight shifted to the courtroom. Two-time Davis Cup champion and Australian team captain Lleyton Hewitt has found himself in hot water with the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA). The situation escalated so much that even his father stepped in to address the concerns.

On September 10, the ITIA announced Hewitt had received a two-week suspension and an AU$30,000 ($19,600) fine. The ruling came after an independent tribunal reviewed his case under the Tennis Anti-Doping Programme (TADP). But this wasn’t the usual story of a failed test. It was about crossing the line with doping officials, something Hewitt discovered the hard way. His father, Glynn Hewitt, has issued a fiery rebuke of the ITIA after his son received the ban for allegedly shoving an anti-doping volunteer.

Lleyton Hewitt backed as his father criticized the process

Hewitt’s father has come out swinging against the ITIA, claiming the process against his son was unfair and biased. Hewitt shoved a 60-year-old volunteer anti-doping chaperone after Australia lost to Italy in the Davis Cup semi-final in Malaga, Spain, last November. In a statement issued by WRP Legal, Glynn said the ITF played too significant a role in the proceedings, even though the tribunal was meant to be independent. He pointed out that the ITF “is a member of the ITIA, has representation on its board, requested attendance at the tribunal and supplied witnesses,” suggesting the case was stacked against his son from the start.

He also linked the ITF’s treatment of Hewitt to his long-standing criticism of how they managed the Davis Cup. According to him, the ITF had never been pleased with Hewitt’s outspoken stance. “It is well known that the ITF have been unhappy with Lleyton’s criticism of their management of the Davis Cup competition,” he said. Moreover, he highlighted decisions like selling rights to Gerard Piqué’s company and changing the historic competition’s format. Glynn described the result as a “shambolic example of its former self.”

The statement further accused the ITIA of focusing solely on removing Hewitt from his Davis Cup role. “The ITIA’s sole objective was to have Lleyton banned from performing his role as Davis Cup captain and to that extent they failed,” he said. This reflected his belief that the agency acted with an agenda rather than pursuing fairness.

Finally, the 72-year-old explained why his son chose not to appeal the sanction, saying there was “a total lack of trust in the process” and that going ahead would have been like “having the ITIA mark their own homework.” He added about the family’s request to redirect fines to the Ken McGregor Tennis Foundation to help junior players. Yet, they rejected the decision.

In a nutshell, the 44-year-old’s father says the ITIA’s process was unfair because the ITF, which has clashed with Lleyton over his Davis Cup criticism, had too much influence in the case. He believes the agency aimed to remove his son as Davis Cup captain, not uphold integrity. He is upset because he sees the process as biased, untrustworthy, and dismissive of their request to use the fine to support junior players. But what exactly triggered the entire fiasco?

Hewitt defends his conduct as self-protection

It all traces back to November 23, 2024, right after Australia’s Davis Cup semifinal defeat to Italy in Malaga, Spain. After pushing the 60-year-old chaperone, he was officially charged with breaching Article 7.15.1.1 of the TADP for “engaging in offensive conduct towards a doping control official” on January 6, 2025. The charge highlighted just how seriously tennis views these kinds of incidents.

However, the former world No. 1 in men’s singles denied the accusation. He pleaded not guilty, saying he acted in self-defence to stop the man from touching him while he was still recovering from abdominal surgery. He also insisted he did not know the man’s role. The ITIA countered with video footage, witness accounts, and interviews to strengthen their case. From there, the issue escalated into a formal tribunal process. It automatically put Hewitt in a battle to defend his reputation in a court and courtroom setting.

Ultimately, the legal fight dragged on for months. Hewitt sought extensions, traveled, and pushed to cross-examine witnesses, insisting he appear in person. The hearing eventually occurred in Sydney on July 21-22, 2025, after two earlier online sessions in June and July. In the end, the tribunal ruled against him. His suspension runs from September 24 to October 7, barring him from every tennis-related activity, whether coaching, mentoring, or captaining Australia in the Davis Cup. That said, what are your thoughts on the situation?