Lleyton flushes new deal
By JOHN THIRSK
October 16, 2002
LLEYTON HEWITT is about to become Lleyton Loo-it with his latest foray into the TV ad market.
The world No.1 has just finished shooting a commercial ... for Sorbent toilet paper.
He will make a mint as the company's new roll model in an advertisement that goes to air in prime time during the Australian Summer of Tennis, starting in December.
Hewitt may be among the biggest earning sportsmen in the world - set to reap an extraordinary $20 million this year in prizemoney and endorsements - but in endorsing toilet tissue it seems our tennis superstar has everyday basic needs like the rest of us.
Hewitt, 21, is also understood to have agreed to terms for another product endorsement.
He already has two credits in TV land - shooting a Nike commercial two years ago and another for Nissan Noodles, exclusively for the Japanese market.
A spokesman for advertising agency Clemenger, who was in charge of the Sorbent production, said yesterday Hewitt was a natural in front of the cameras, even given the slightly embarrassing topic. The new deals will take Hewitt's salary above $20 million.
Apart from the $4.2m he has earned in prizemoney so far this year, Hewitt can expect to reap $16m as a result of his burgeoning list of sponsorships and endorsements.
Robert Aivatoglou, the Australian representative for Octagon, Hewitt's management company, said the Australian was also doing a lot of work for charities and helping aspiring youngsters.
"Lleyton is committed to working with the Special Olympics," Aivatoglou said.
The Daily Telegraph
