A South African judge has sentenced retired doubles tennis champion Bob Hewitt to six years in prison for rape and sexual assault.

Judge Bert Bam on Monday sentenced Hewitt to eight years in jail for two counts of rape, with two years suspended. He also sentenced Hewitt to two years in prison for a third charge of sexual assault.

Bam says the three sentences will be served at the same time, meaning Hewitt, 75, should spend up to six years in prison.

The judge also ordered Hewitt to pay about $8,500 to state-run campaigns against sexual violence. Hewitt's accusers say he assaulted them in the 1980s and 1990s when they were minors.

Australian-born Hewitt denied the charges.