They’re a pair of Aussie icons, who are both known to get a little hot-tempered, so you’d think a stage wouldn’t be big enough for the two of them.
But hunky tennis champion Lleyton Hewitt, 36, could have been just ‘another member of the band’, when he joined Australian rock royalty Jimmy Barnes, 61, at the Australian Open.
Taking to the stage at the Smash MND concert, the unlikely musical duo impressed the crowd at the tournament’s ‘live stage’ – with the rock veteran performing classic hits from his Cold Chisel days and solo career.
Unlikely bandmates: Tennis champion Lleyton Hewitt, 36, joined rock royalty Jimmy Barnes and former AFL player Neale Daniher at the Smash MND concert, held at the Australia Open live stage on Sunday
The unlikely pair then became a trio, when passionate motor neurone disease activist, and sufferer, Australian Rules Footballer Neale Daniher joined the two of them.
Cutting a casual figure, a rugged-looking Lleyton wore a raglan-style t-shirt and blue jeans, while donning a light blue FightMND visor.
Veteran rock singer Barnesy stuck to his signature all-back look.
Smash MND: Tennis ace Lleyton Hewitt, former AFL player Neale Daniher and Jimmy Barnes posed together at the charity concert
The cause is close to former AFL-player Neale Daniher’s heart as he suffers from the disease.
Talking to the Herald Sun newspaper last year, Neale said he’s been battling the it for four years and admitted that he’s living on borrowed time.
‘I’m lucky in a lot of ways — my disease has progressed slower than it could have, and I haven’t been hit with it as young as many people are,’ he said, adding that only one in five diagnosed patients live into their fifth year.
‘Proud to be part of it’: The former Cold Chisel frontman belted out some of his classic hits like Working Class Man at the concert, which was held at the Australian Open Live Stage
The charity concert was part of the official live music line-up for this year’s Australian Open, with tennis greats Brad Drewett, Angie Cunningham, and most recently Peter Doohan battling having battled the disease.
Australian rock legend Jimmy Barnes telling Newscorp that the Australian Open was ‘one of the world’s great sporting events,’ and he was ‘proud to be part of it.’
Fans, meanwhile, have turned their attention to what happens after the Australian Open, with speculation Lleyton Hewitt could be headed to the South African jungle as part of ‘I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here’.
Headliner: The rock veteran performed in front of an illuminated sign with his name on it at the charity concert
‘One of the world’s great sporting events’: The beloved singer was going to belt out songs from his Cold Chisel days and from his successful solo career
Icon: Hundreds of people gathered to watch the event at the Australian Open Live Stage
Online chatter began when the program revealed to that the next contestant are a tennis star at break point, with the show promoting a ‘tennis star,’ via its Instagram account as well.
‘Tennis star…This world famous player will be at break point before they know it.’
Fans of the series were quick to take to the comments section, suggesting Lleyton Hewitt, 36, to be the mystery identity.
Social media users simply wrote ‘Lleyton Hewitt’ while others put forward Pat Rafter, 45, and Mark Philippoussis, 41.
‘Lleyton Hewitt!’ Fans speculated the 36-year-old tennis star will join the cast of I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here!
Is Lleyton headed to the jungle? Taking to Instagram on Saturday, I’m A Celebrity offered another clue as to who will brave the next South African jungle in the next season of the show
Online: Social media users simply wrote ‘Lleyton Hewitt’ in the comments section