Former Australian Grand Slam tennis doubles champion Bob Hewitt has been formally charged with rape and sexual assault of minors and will go to trial in February next year.
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Mr Hewitt grew up in Dubbo and credited the city's sporting heritage with getting him interested in the sport in which he won nine grand slam doubles titles, including five times at Wimbledon.
His lawyer Alwyn Griebenow said the 74-year-old denies two charges of rape and one of sexual assault of girls he coached in South Africa decades ago.
Mr Griebenow said Mr Hewitt would plead not guilty to all three charges at his trial.
Mr Hewitt attended Boksburg Magistrate's Court near Johannesburg on Friday and told the court he understood the charges, Mr Griebenow said in a phone interview.
"Mr Hewitt is relieved that we at least now have a trial date," Mr Griebenow said.
He said Hewitt denied having any sexual contact with the alleged victims or making any "sexual advances" toward them.
Hewitt was focusing on "putting the record straight" at the trial, Mr Griebenow added.
In South Africa, a defendant is served with indictment papers before his case is sent to a higher court for trial.
Mr Hewitt was charged last year and will stand trial from February 9 at South Gauteng High Court.
He is accused of raping a girl under the age of 16 in 1981, raping another girl under the age of 16 in 1982, and sexually assaulting a third girl under the age of 18 in 1994.
Australian-born Hewitt won nine grand slam doubles and six mixed doubles titles in the 1960s and 1970s, playing occasionally with former stars Arthur Ashe and Billie Jean King.
He was also a successful singles player, reaching number five in the world rankings and making the semi-finals of the men's singles at the Australian Open three times.
Hewitt had previously said growing up in Dubbo and watching the NSW Hardcourt Championships, which brought players like Ken Rosewall to the city, had been a big motivator for him.
Hewitt missed a string of his early court dates citing ill health, but arrived for his hearing on Friday wearing a brown blazer and using a walking stick.
His doctor said in court documents last year that Hewitt had a stroke in 2010 and a heart attack in 2011.
He also suffered from anxiety attacks and depression among other health problems.
