So the final ball of the 136th Championships has been struck, the last flourish of a racket in a blessedly “normal” tournament for Ian Hewitt, who is stepping down from his role as Chairman of the All England Lawn Tennis Club after three and a half years.
Hewitt’s tenure may have been short in terms of Championships competed, but his legacy is long in memorable initiatives, particularly in establishing the Club’s desire to be a force for good beyond tennis. In this he built on his leadership of the Wimbledon Foundation, the Club’s charitable arm, from its formation in 2013 until January 2020.
Most notably during the last few years, the Chairman’s Royal Box invitations have included leading scientists, epidemiologists, medical pioneers, community leaders, sustainability entrepreneurs and advocates for equality and diversity as well as past champions and tennis-loving celebrities.
This year, the guest list included clinicians and hospital management to mark the 75th anniversary of the NHS. In 2022, Hewitt’s invitees acknowledged society’s debt to the response of medical experts in helping the world manage the coronavirus pandemic.
All looked sunny when Hewitt succeeded Philip Brook as Club Chairman in December 2019. The retractable roofs were fully operational on both courts, Hewitt had appointed Sally Bolton as the AELTC’s first female Chief Executive… and then the world was paralysed by COVID-19.
In 2020, Wimbledon was cancelled for the first time since World War II. In 2021, crowds were initially limited to 50 per cent of normal capacity with players and spectators having to operate in a “limited risk environment”.
And then came 2022, with play on Middle Sunday for the first time, marking the joyful centenary of the inaugural Championships staged on the Centre Court. But there was also controversy over the exclusion of players representing Russia and Belarus.
It was the Club’s contribution to the emergency response to the COVID-19 crisis in 2020, however, that has proved enduring and significant, a standard-bearer for supplying silver linings in those worrying times.
Thanks to its foresight in having insurance cover for a pandemic, the Club was able to pay £10 million in lieu of prize money to 620 players. Payments were also made to many of the officials who would have worked at The Championships.
The Club kitchen delivered over 30,000 daily hot meals for a year to those in need in Merton and Wandsworth, and much of the 2020 strawberry supply was donated to local hospitals.
Balls were donated to parks and schools; towels to charities supporting the homeless. The Wimbledon Foundation also distributed £1.5 million among local and national charities.
The spirit of a Wimbledon Fortnight Recreated proved a powerful morale booster.
Other changes during Hewitt’s tenure include the introduction this year of a 14-and-under event (won by Briton Mark Ceban) to complement the Junior Championships (in which another homegrown player, Henry Searle, won the boys' singles) and the doubling in size of the Quad Wheelchair draws.
Hewitt has co-authored a variety of publications about Wimbledon and its history, and been a keen advocate of The Championships photographic team. It’s all about maintaining and modernising the stage for history in the making.
The outgoing Chair has witnessed a hat-trick of wins for Novak Djokovic over young talents Matteo Berrettini and Nick Kyrgios, a stunning first Wimbledon title for Carlos Alcaraz, and stirring stories unfold in the crowning of three very different ladies’ champions, Ashleigh Barty, Elena Rybakina and Marketa Vondrousova
Hewitt is succeeded by current Vice-Chair Debbie Jevans, who will be the first female Chair in the Club’s history.
The Championships 2024 will take place from July 1 – 14 2024 and the Wimbledon Public Ballot will open in mid-September. Make sure you’re one of the first to hear about tickets for next year’s Championships by signing up to myWimbledon.
