Guilty : Bob Hewitt was convicted of two charges of rape and one of indecent assault by the South Gauteng High Court in South Africa . A former tennis Grand Slam champion has been found guilty of raping and assaulting young girls he was coaching in the early 1980s . Australian-born Bob Hewitt , 75 , had pleaded not guilty to the two charges of rape and one of indecent assault , which were brought against him by three women in 2013 . But Judge Bert Bam , sitting at the South Gauteng High Court outside Johannesburg , South Africa , said that the evidence against him was 'overwhelming ' . During the trial , his victims said that Hewitt , best known as a doubles star , assaulted them during private tennis lessons when they were young girls . 'Time did not erase the crimes . ' A guilty person should not go unpunished . The scales of justice tip against the accused , ' Bam said . One woman testified that Hewitt had told her 'rape is enjoyable ' as he assaulted her . Another victim told the court he had touched her inappropriately 34 years ago and forced her to perform a sex act on him when she was 12 and 13 . Hewitt won numerous Grand Slam events during his career in the 1960s and 1970s and was named to the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1992 . But his name was removed from the hall of fame in 2012 , following allegations that he sexually abused girls he coached . Judge Bam said he is satisfied that the two women who had accused the retired tennis player of rape and a third woman who had accused him of sexual assault were telling the truth . The judge said the striking similarities among the three womens ' testimonies showed that Hewitt 's conduct was calculated . Bam initially ordered that Australian-born Hewitt should be taken into custody , but said he was willing to consider bail until sentencing in April . A decision is expected later today . Wearing a suit , Hewitt sat with arms crossed and appeared impassive as the judge explained the reasoning behind his verdict for nearly two hours . His wife , Delaille , sat on a chair close to the accused 's bench . He had pleaded not guilty to the two charges of rape and one of indecent assault , which were brought against him by three women in 2013 . One woman testified that Hewitt had told her 'rape is enjoyable ' as he assaulted her . Another victim told the court he had touched her inappropriately 34 years ago and forced her to perform a sex act on him when she was 12 and 13 . ' I still do n't think he thinks he did anything wrong , ' said one of Hewitt 's accusers , who is now 45 . The victim , who was in court for the verdict , laid a charge of rape against Hewitt in 2011 for a crime she says he committed in 1980 . She said her former coach raped her in his car before tennis practice when she was 12 years old . A South African group called Women and Men Against Children 's Abuse helped two other accusers come forward and petitioned South African prosecutors until Hewitt was brought to trial this year . Hewitt was convicted of two alleged rapes that took place in the 1980s , and for a sexual assault that allegedly happened in the 1990s . Bam said the accounts of the three women who accused Hewitt were consistent and revealed a pattern of behavior by Hewitt . Hewitt , born in Australia , has spent most of his life in South Africa : In this file photograph from June 26 , 1965 , he is seen playing at Wimbledon . Hewitt also reached the semi-finals of the men 's singles at the Australian Open three times , and won the Davis Cup with South Africa in 1974 after settling there . 'There is such a striking similarity between the evidence against the accused and his modus operandi , ' said Bam . All three were gullible young girls , flattered by the attention of a renowned player , according to the judge . 'Their submissiveness in the circumstances should never have been seen as consent , ' said Bam . The letters that Hewitt wrote to another of his accusers , were cited in detail as corroborating evidence . The judge said Hewitt had failed to convince him that the letters were only about tennis , as Hewitt said . Hewitt was born in Dubbo , Australia but has spent much of his life in South Africa . He won nine Grand Slam doubles and six Grand Slam mixed doubles titles in the 1960s and 1970s . Hewitt also reached the semi-finals of the men 's singles at the Australian Open three times , and won the Davis Cup with South Africa in 1974 after settling there . The prosecution and defence both presented closing arguments at the South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg on Monday . Hewitt had pleaded not guilty to all charges . His doctor said last year that Hewitt remained ill after suffering a stroke in 2010 and a heart attack in 2011 .
Australian-born Bob Hewitt , 75 , carried out offences in early 1980s . Found guilty of one charges of rape and two of indecent assault . Judge sitting at South African court said evidence was 'overwhelming '