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‘LITTLE LLEYTON’ MEETS ‘BIG LLEYTON’ AT CONCORD
By Wayne Cousins
28/10/2010 8:29:40 PMIt was the day when a champion tennis player met a real little fighter with the same christian name.
Lleyton Hewitt arrived at Concord Oval today to meet the Wests Tigers’ most courageous supporter in five-year-old Lleyton Giles, who continues to fight a terminal liver condition.
The Giles family have become a very big part of the Wests Tigers since the club first met them in August.
Having learnt how the family had unsuccessfully tried to meet Hewitt previously, Wests Tigers contacted Hewitt’s manager David Drysdale to see if it was possible for the former world number one to meet Lleyton.
Like many, the father of three was deeply inspired by Lleyton’s plight.
With tennis racquets in hand, ‘little Lleyton’ got the chance to play tennis with ‘big Lleyton’ on the grass courts of Cintra Park Tennis Centre at Concord. On the other side of the net were Wes Giles, Lleyton’s father, and Wests Tigers player Tim Moltzen.
“I have read a lot about Lleyton being around the club and how inspirational he has been and how much of a fighter he is,’’ Hewitt said.
“When the Tigers approached me, I jumped at the chance. It is fantastic to see this little fella. He obviously has got a lot of battles ahead of him but he just gives everything and lives every single day and that’s what it is all about.
“Stories like this really hit home. It hits home when you have got a young family yourself and you realise how fortunate you are. Family is a priority for any parent.”
Following the game of tennis, Hewitt presented little Lleyton with a signed Yonex racquet, a cap and one of his Australian Davis Cup shirts.
“It was unbelievable. To have Lleyton Hewitt and my young bloke playing together was great fun,’’ Wes said.
“He is a great bloke. It was sensational. We will never forget this moment.”
Footnote: Supporters can purchase the ‘Little Tiger’ CD single about Lleyton Giles for $5 at Wests Tigers Gearzone shops at Concord Oval and Campbelltown (Brands On Sale outlet, Shop 234, 32 Queen Street), as well as through St Marys Sound Centre on freecall number 1800 247 425. Proceeds go to the Giles family to help with medical expenses.
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new found repsect for big lleyton - I always thought he was a bit of a idiot - although I find it interesting that before the tigers got on board, LLeyton Hewitt jumped at it, where they say that before this any attempts at meeting him were unseuccessful…
and good to see moltz getting in on it - shows the club still sees him as a big player in their eyes.
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i agree i also found some respect for lleyton its good to see him getting involved with the tigers community, its a very good look for the club
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Good on big Lleyton for doing his bit for our brave little fan, but the most important thing other than Little Lleyton was how well did Tim Moltzen move around the court in the game of tennis?.
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new found repsect for big lleyton - I always thought he was a bit of a idiot - although I find it interesting that before the tigers got on board, LLeyton Hewitt jumped at it, where they say that before this any attempts at meeting him were unseuccessful…
and good to see moltz getting in on it - shows the club still sees him as a big player in their eyes.
I personally think Hewitt gets a bad rap. He may carry on like a bit of a pork chop on court but unlike a lot of other “champions” at least he pays his taxes here. Also without him playing Davis Cup we’d be struggling to get past Bhutan to win Sub-section 5C of the Asia-Pacific Regional qualifiers…
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I’ve always been a fan of Hewitts and this story doesnt really surprise me. In sporting terms he is an aussie battler who has taken himself to the very top of his profession and has ALWAYS represented his country to the best of his ability.
Good on him.
Think that Moltz looks very healthy in that photo. He looks strong and fit. -
new found repsect for big lleyton - i always thought he was a bit of a idiot - although i find it interesting that before the tigers got on board, lleyton hewitt jumped at it, where they say that before this any attempts at meeting him were unseuccessful…
And good to see moltz getting in on it - shows the club still sees him as a big player in their eyes.
i personally think hewitt gets a bad rap. He may carry on like a bit of a pork chop on court but unlike a lot of other “champions” at least he pays his taxes here. Also without him playing davis cup we’d be struggling to get past bhutan to win sub-section 5c of the asia-pacific regional qualifiers…
lleyton hewitt has one of the biggest hearts in sport he never quits and throughout his history had a five set record that was unbeatable even though he was half the size and half the muscle mass of the peple he was up against.
His heart like little lleyton was the size of the mcg.if lleyton hewitt was african american we would say what a great showman he was. -
Lleyton Hewitt does a lot of community work away from tennis I’ve heard, and I’ve also heard he asks for minimal publicity about it (I guess so people don’t question his motives for doing the work). Away from tennis he actually comes off as a decent guy, but it’s often overlooked because of how he carries himself on the court, which is polarising.
