Former world number one Leyton Hewitt has confirmed he will come out of retirement to feature in the men’s doubles at the Australian tennis open next year.

Hewitt stepped away from the sport in 2016, given a hero’s farewell from an adoring Melbourne Park crowd.

The 36-year-old made a brief comeback in the Davis Cup in March of that year, stepping in alongside john peers to take on the United States in a first-round doubles clash.

It was confirmed on today that the two-time major winner and 2005 Australian open finalist would return for one final hurrah in January, when he will partner good friend Sam Groth – at Melbourne Park in the men’s doubles.