Lleyton Hewitt named Australia’s Davis Cup captain

Lleyton Hewitt was named Australia’s seventh Davis Cup captain on Monday.

Lleyton Hewitt was named Australia’s seventh Davis Cup captain on Monday, Tennis Australia announced.

The 34-year-old is the youngest Davis Cup captain since WWII. He replaces interim skipper Wally Masur, who had been the captain since January when Pat Rafter resigned.

“I've always made it my main priority to play for Australia ... and that’s something I want to take into my captaincy,” the former world No. 1 said Tuesday at Melbourne Park. “I’m absolutely rapt to be here and to be leading this great nation.”

Hewitt, a former Wimbledon and US Open champion, is set to retire from tennis in January, after making his 20th straight Australian Open appearance.

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- Kayla Lombardo