Milestone Moment: Hewitt’s Historic No. 1 Ascension in 2001
Aussie sensation claimed the top spot at just 20
November 19, 2025
Getty Images
Lleyton Hewitt reigned for 75 consecutive weeks as No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings.
By Sam Jacot
On November 19, 2001, Lleyton Hewitt etched his name in the record books, becoming the youngest player ever to attain the coveted World No. 1 rank at the tender age of 20—a record later eclipsed by Carlos Alcaraz.
The turn of the millennium marked a transitional phase in tennis; while legends Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi were on the decline, a young Roger Federer had yet to fully emerge. Amidst this environment, Hewitt seized his opportunity.
Having grabbed attention in 2000 with a groundbreaking semi-final run at the US Open, he backed it up with remarkable consistency and stellar performances in 2001, making him only the second Australian, after Patrick Rafter, to reach No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings.
The season kicked off with a triumph in Sydney, followed by an impressive performance during the Sunshine Double, reaching the semi-finals in both Indian Wells and Miami. Success continued on grass at Queen’s Club and ‘s-Hertogenbosch, but it was the American hard-court circuit where Hewitt truly made his mark.
Entering the US Open as the World No. 4, Hewitt trailed the top-ranked Gustavo Kuerten by 1,360 points. However, he rose to the occasion in New York, taking down titans like Andy Roddick, Yevgeny Kafelnikov, and the legendary Sampras to claim his first Grand Slam title.
As his gap narrowed with Kuerten, Hewitt clinched his fifth title of the year in Tokyo. Qualified for the prestigious Nitto ATP Finals, the 20-year-old knew that winning the tournament would secure his ascent to No. 1, a race shared with Kuerten and Agassi.
Upon sustaining an unbeaten streak, including a three-set win over Sebastien Grosjean and a decisive victory against Agassi, the path to the pinnacle of the rankings was becoming clearer. Hewitt qualified for the semi-finals by defeating Rafter and ultimately claimed victory over Juan Carlos Ferrero, allowing him to seize the title and his place as the top player.
Hewitt’s remarkable journey would see him maintain his No. 1 ranking for 75 consecutive weeks, the third-longest in history, surpassed only by Roger Federer (237 weeks) and Jimmy Connors (160 weeks). He became one of five players, alongside Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner, to hold the top spot for over a year as a first-time World No. 1.
