"Just give 100 percent. And that's not just in tennis or sports; that's in life. If you give 100 percent, you'll have no regrets."
Lleyton Hewitt
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Special Olympics New York athlete Theresa Durana, Lleyton Hewitt, and Special Olympics New Jersey athlete Diana Zervoulis. Participating in the clinic were Special Olympics New York athletes: John Gianakouros, Michael Hatley, Joey Calarco, Lisa Hernandez, Maria Musich, Dennis Maroudas, and Tommy Adamari. From Special Olympics New Jersey were athletes Andrew Roslan, Robert Cameron, Thomas Monzo, and Michael Costello. [Photo by Kirsten Suto] |
For one shining moment, Special Olympics New York (USA) athlete Tom Adimari looked like as much of a world-class tennis player as the man on the other side of the court: 2001 U.S. Open champion and 2002 Wimbledon champion Lleyton Hewitt.
Playing in a Unified Sports® doubles match, Adimari rushed the net and crushed a shot, scorching the ball in-bounds, past Hewitt and his partner. The large crowd gathered on both sides of the court cheered loudly.
In his pursuit to encourage the world to "Be a Champion for Special Olympics," Lleyton Hewitt hosted a tennis clinic for Special Olympics athletes on Thursday, 21 August 2003. Special Olympics tennis athletes from New York and New Jersey performed skills and drills under the direction of Hewitt at 3 p.m. on Court 4 at the world-class USTA National Tennis Center as a prelude to the U.S. Open.
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"When I play, I do the best I can," Special Olympics New York athlete Tom Adimari, shown above during the 21 August clinic, said. "And that's what [Lleyton Hewitt] does, too." [Photo courtesy Special Olympics New York] |
"I thought it was pretty good that I scored against Lleyton Hewitt," Adimari said. "I thought I could do it if I tried hard enough." And that was precisely the message Hewitt served to more than a dozen Special Olympics athletes from New York and New Jersey during an hour-long tennis clinic.
"Just give 100 percent," said Hewitt, who was in Flushing for the 2003 U.S. Open. "And that's not just in tennis or sports; that's in life. If you give 100 percent, you'll have no regrets."
The 22-year-old Hewitt certainly has given Special Olympics 100 percent in recent years. His role as a Global Ambassador for Special Olympics means he has been spreading the Special Olympics message of unity throughout the world, including China, Ireland, Canada and his home country, Australia. Throughout his travels he works with Special Olympics athletes, helping them to not only develop their tennis skills but increase their self-confidence. Hewitt is also part of a public service campaign encouraging people to be a champion for Special Olympics by volunteering, coaching or supporting the movement.
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"We are a movement determined to change the world by creating awareness of the potential of individuals with mental retardation," said Timothy P. Shriver, Chairman of Special Olympics, seen here posing with Special Olympics New York athlete John Gianakouros. "Lleyton Hewitt is globally helping us change social perception and transform attitudes toward our athletes." [Photo courtesy Special Olympics New York] |
"Special Olympics athletes demonstrate the true essence of sport with their determination to achieve despite challenges they face. They're the real champions of sport," stated Hewitt. "Their achievements both on and off the court amaze me."
At the Flushing clinic, Hewitt volleyed with Special Olympics tennis players; he participated in a question-and-answer session, talking about everything from proper racquet grip to his career; and he participated in Unified Sports doubles play. He and his coach, Roger Rasheed, took turns pairing up with Special Olympics players. Hewitt's team tended to come out on top, thanks in large part to his crowd-pleasing trick shots. But he also encouraged the athletes on both sides of the net non-stop, clapping, exchanging high-fives and sayings things such as "Good shot, mate!"
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Lleyton Hewitt offers some pointers to his doubles partner, Special Olympics New York athlete Theresa Durana. [Photo by Kirsten Suto] |
"I liked playing with Lleyton," said Special Olympics New York's John Gianakouros, who competed at the 1995 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Connecticut. "I wish he'd be my partner in a tournament. We'd win."
The clinic, conducted just four days prior to the start of the 2003 U.S. Open, drew media from all over the world, including The Tennis Channel and several television stations from Australia. CBS, which broadcasts the U.S. Open, also was hand to record a segment about Hewitt's relationship with Special Olympics. Fellow tennis standout Patrick McEnroe interviewed Hewitt for CBS and then signed autographs for the Special Olympics athletes.
Hewitt was still their favorite, though.
"I like Andre Agassi, Monica Seles, Jennifer Capriati … But Lleyton Hewitt, he's my No. 1," said Maria Musich of Special Olympics New York. "He's a good man."
Adimari, meanwhile, concluded that he and Hewitt are not very different. "When I play, I do the best I can," Adimari said. "And that's what he does, too." |
