Lleyton Hewitt retires: Career highlights

The former World No.1 retired from professional tennis following his second round loss to David Ferrer at the Australian Open.

Lleyton Hewitt flourished in the professional tennis circuit for considerable portions in his 18-year career.

Career highlights of Australia's former world number one Lleyton Hewitt, who retired on Thursday after being knocked out of the Australian Open:

- Qualified for the Australian Open in January 1997, a month before his 16th birthday, the youngest qualifier in tournament history

- Captured his first title, at his home town in Adelaide, over fellow Australian Jason Stoltenberg in 1998 after stunning Andre Agassi in the semi-final

- Became the youngest ever world number one aged 20 and nine months in 2001, breaking the 69-year-old record set by American Wimbledon champion Ellsworth Vines, aged 21, in 1932

"I've given 100%" Lleyton Hewitt gives his last on-court interview >#ausopen>https://t.co/dGWr0cTFwR

— Australian Open (@AustralianOpen) >January 21, 2016

- Won his first Grand Slam title at the 2001 US Open, beating Pete Sampras 7-6 (7/4), 6-1, 6-1 in the final

- Crowned Wimbledon champion a year later, crushing Argentina's David Nalbandian 6-1, 6-3, 6-2 in the final

- Member of two Australian Davis Cup-winning teams, over Spain in 2003 and France in 1999. He played in 41 ties, winning 58 singles and doubles matches for his country between 1999-2015, an Australian record