Clay Court Statistics Overview
Bob Hewitt has an impressive clay court record of 117–59 across 176 matches (66.5% — strong). A win rate of that calibre over 176 matches is a reliable indicator of genuine quality on this surface. 4 titles on clay: Clemmons, Munich, Bournemouth, Indianapolis — a record that reflects consistent ability to close out tournaments on this surface.
At Grand Slam level (Roland Garros): Bob Hewitt is 7–9 (43.8%) across 16 Grand Slam matches — below .500, though the elite draw depth at the Slams makes that a notoriously difficult barrier to crack.
9 finals reached on clay — won 4, lost 5 (44% conversion) — capable of reaching finals consistently, with room to improve at the decisive moment. 11 semifinals. 24 quarterfinals.
vs. Top 10 on clay: 1–5 (16.7%, 6 matches). Top 10 opponents have represented a clear ceiling on clay; addressing that deficit is the single biggest lever for improving the overall record here.
By format on clay — best-of-five: 46–20 (69.7%); best-of-three: 71–39 (64.5%). Slightly better in five-set matches on clay — a positive sign for the Slams specifically.
Peak season: 1972 — 24–4 (85.7%) from 28 matches. That year captures the ceiling of what Bob Hewitt can do on clay when performing at their best and represents the standard to aim for.
Bob Hewitt Clay Court Record by Year
| Year | W | L | Win% | Titles | Finals | SF | QF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | 0 | 1 | 0.0% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1978 | 1 | 10 | 9.1% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1977 | 15 | 11 | 57.7% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1976 | 8 | 9 | 47.1% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 1975 | 12 | 4 | 75.0% | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| 1974 | 8 | 2 | 80.0% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1972 | 24 | 4 | 85.7% | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| 1970 | 21 | 9 | 70.0% | 0 | 1 | 2 | 7 |
| 1969 | 19 | 6 | 76.0% | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| 1968 | 9 | 3 | 75.0% | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Recent Clay Court Matches
| Date | Result | Opponent | Tournament | Round | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979-07-09 | Loss | (122) Peter Elter | Gstaad | R32 | 7-6 6-2 |
| 1978-10-09 | Loss | (56) Francisco Gonzalez | Barcelona | R64 | 6-4 RET |
| 1978-08-21 | Loss | (31) Adriano Panatta | Boston | R64 | 6-4 6-3 |
| 1978-08-14 | Loss | (18) John McEnroe | Toronto | R32 | 6-1 6-0 |
| 1978-07-31 | Loss | (5) Eddie Dibbs | North Conway | R64 | 6-3 6-3 |
| 1978-07-24 | Loss | (169) Keith Richardson | Louisville | R64 | 6-2 6-1 |
| 1978-07-10 | Loss | (52) Tom Okker | Gstaad | R16 | 7-6 6-3 |
| 1978-07-10 | Win | (136) Onny Parun | Gstaad | R32 | 6-4 1-6 6-0 |
| 1978-05-29 | Loss | (118) Ivan Molina | Roland Garros | R128 | 7-5 7-5 6-4 |
| 1978-05-23 | Loss | (28) Karl Meiler | Munich | R32 | 7-6 7-5 |
Bob Hewitt
Matches — Clay