Australian Open controversies you might not remember: When Lleyton Hewitt's opponent got $2,000 fine for spitting in anger

Arguably, Australia's greatest tennis player of the 21st century, Lleyton Hewitt, had an 18-year career as a singles player. He is the last Australian male to win a Grand Slam and, at the time, was the youngest ever World No.1 in tennis history.

Hewitt has a US Open and Wimbledon triumph each to his name as well as back-to-back Tour Finals victories in 2001 and 2002. The Australian also won the US Open doubles in 2000.

Despite having multiple Grand Slams to his name, the Australian has never won his home Major. The closest he has come to victory was at the 2005 Australian Open where he finished runner-up as he lost to Russian Marat Safin in the finals. However, his 2005 Australian Open run was also marred by controversy.

He was seeded third in the main draw and faced Frenchman Arnaud Clement in the first round, which he won in straight sets. Hewitt, the undoubted crowd favorite to lift the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup, had a way with his actions on the court and was known for his overbearing and grating personality.

This was brought to notice in the second game against American James Blake, in which the Australian prevailed after going down in the first set. The home favorite faced Juan Ignacio "El Flaco" Chela at the Rod Laver Arena in the third round of the Happy Slam.

Chela had been subject to Hewitt's aggressive persona throughout the match, with self-boosting chants of "Come On!" that the Australian consistently screamed throughout the game. With the game slipping away from him and at 0-40 down on his serve in the fifth game of the fourth and final set, Chela's serve nearly hit his opponent, standing at the baseline, near the crotch.

The eventual runner-up, who would go on to win 6-2, 4-6, 6-1, 6-4, would then exchange some not-so-positive words with Chela at the changeover, and the Argentine would appear to spit in his opponent's direction as a result.

When the duo shook hands at the end of the game by the net, Chela apologized to Hewitt for the incident. The latter stated that he wouldn't be filing further charges but described the general situation as sad.

"I don't think it's the right thing, no," Hewitt said.

"We're both competitive blokes out there. We were going for it. It's sad that something like that happens," said the eventual runner-up (via nytimes.com).

Chela would go on to explain what went down as he said that he was spitting but not in Hewitt's direction and that he even apologized to him for the same.

"There was one mistake I made and Lleyton made his sign and I was a bit upset about that because the match was very tense," said the Argentine.

"I was spitting but not in Lleyton's direction. Lleyton thought it was at him and I apologised for that at the end of the match, but I was not spitting at Lleyton," he added. (via abc.net.au)

Despite accepting Chela's apology in court, there were reports that the Australian's coach got into a heated argument with his opponent in the locker room, which made it clear that such actions would not be tolerated in the future.

Regardless of his apology, the Argentine would go on to be fined $2000 by the tournament officials after further investigation and was deemed guilty of unsportsmanlike conduct.

Roger Federer would also get involved in the Hewitt-Chela controversy

Even Roger Federer would get involved in the controversy as he commented on the situation | Getty Images

Sparking a larger debate about Hewitt's on-court theatrics, 20-time Grand Slam winner Roger Federer said that he understood why his opponent's behavior might have angered Chela but also said that one can't retaliate the way he did.

He also noted that the Australian did not need to tone down his actions.

"I mean, it definitely plays a role, but I don't think you should go that extreme," said Federer.

"Geez, he's in Australia. He wants to win this tournament so badly, and he's showing it. He wants people to feel it. So, I mean, what is it, 'tone it down?' Three c'mons less per match? That's not going to make the difference. So we all agree. I mean, he's fine the way he is." (via nytimes.com)

Hewitt would go on to beat Rafael Nadal and Andy Roddick on course to the finals, where he would succumb to Marat Safin 6-1, 3-6, 4-6, 4-6. There is yet to be an Australian male athlete to lift the Australian Open singles title in the 21st century.