Lleyton Hewitt might have hung up his racket at Melbourne Park on Thursday with the final singles appearance of his glittering career, but the 34-year-old could not resist one last outburst on Rod Laver Arena. While the record books will note the 2001 US Open and 2002 Wimbledon titles, and the two Davis Cup crowns of '99 and '03, tennis crowds the world over will also remember Hewitt for the passion he brought to the court, and the interview room...
1. The Australian certainly wouldn't be told when to quit as he shrugged off questions about his retirement as far back as 2011 in an interview with Australia's Daily Telegraph...
"I'm fortunate: I can play as long as I want to play. There's no coach or trainer who is going to say to me that I'm dropped or sacked, it's time to move on. I can play as long as I want to play."
2. Hewitt also had his say on Dominik Hrbaty's pink shirt with holes across the back at the 2005 US Open...
"No, I wouldn't wear it, But it made it a lot easier for me to beat him today."
3. The veteran admitted he was prepared to walk away from the sport if his aging body couldn't hold out in the 2014 season...
"I'm one injury away from hanging up the racket at any time."
4. And, Hewitt revealed his softer side around the home in an interview with Australia's Courier Mail...
"I am two different people. What you see on the court is just natural for me. I wear my heart on my sleeve. I have always said "C'mon'' purely to fire myself up. Off the court I am a lot shyer. I stick to my team and my family and people I trust."
5. Hewitt proposed a macho way to cope with the extreme heat at the 2007 Australian Open...
"That's what you do all the hard work for, to play in situations that put your body through gruelling times. If you're not up to it, pull out."
6. A young Hewitt remained modest after defeating former world No.1 Andre Agassi in the last four at the 1998 Next Generation Adelaide International...
"I was just grateful to get the opportunity to play probably the most talented person to ever pick up a racket."
7. Hewitt responded to allegations he argued with chair umpire Andreas Egli at the 2001 French Open, which saw him booed from the court by the Parisian crowd...
"I know what I said to the umpire and the umpire knows as well. I'm a very passionate player when I get out there. I give everything I've got. I don't think anyone is going to be happy to be foot-faulted on a deuce point when you're serving at one set all, one all, you hit an unreturnable serve and there's a late call."
8. However, Hewitt showed his wife Bec some love after revealing the couple have not had an argument in 10 years...
"She really is my soulmate and we go through absolutely everything together. I couldn't be prouder to have Bec alongside me."
9. The quintessential Aussie Battler is also a fan of the Davis Cup...
"Playing for Australia has always been my biggest honour. Getting the No.89 gold jacket off John Newcombe and Tony Roche when they picked me to play Davis Cup was one of the great days of my life.
10. Finally, Hewitt emphasises his love for competition and the Green and Gold of Australia while speaking to the media after his final singles match at Melbourne Park...
"I love coming out here and competing, it's never hard coming out and playing in front of such great spectators. I love Rod Laver Arena, it's like a second home for me, and I'm just so fortunate to have this opportunity 20 years in a row."