20 years after Lleyton Hewitt fought for the Australian Open crown, his son Cruz will compete within the qualifying draw. Cruz obtained the Australian Open qualifying wild card ten days after turning 16. The younger gun will attempt to write historical past books in entrance of the house followers.
If he passes three qualifying obstacles, Cruz will develop into the youngest participant within the Australian Open predominant draw since, you guessed it, his father Lleyton! The previous world no. 1 obtained the qualifying wild card on the Australian Open a month earlier than his sixteenth birthday in 1997.
The 15-year-old introduced his wealthy expertise and defeated Andy Stewart, Michael Kratochvil and Mark Petchey en path to the principle draw look. Hewitt dominated and took all six units so as to add his title to the principle motion. The younger gun misplaced his first Main match to Sergi Bruguera.
Cruz Hewitt hitting with Federer simply 10 years in the past.
We’re all so previous. pic.twitter.com/QRZpaLjIWs
— Bastien Fachan (@BastienFachan) December 18, 2024
Twenty-eight years later, Lleyton’s son will embrace the identical path at the same age. Cruz will wrap up his junior season proper outdoors the top-100. The 15-year-old competed on the Australian Open in January and reached two semi-finals in Brisbane within the following weeks.
Cruz clinched the J200 Sydney title in August and repeated that on the identical website every week later, dropping one set in ten matches. Hewitt wrapped up the junior season on the J100 Christchurch occasion in October, lifting his third title of the season.
The Aussie may have completed within the top-100 however embraced skilled matches within the closing weeks of the season. Cruz competed in the principle draw of three Futures occasions in 2024 and tried to qualify for 2 Challengers.
He delivered two main-draw Futures triumphs and two within the qualifying matches at Challengers. Thus, the Aussie collected six ATP factors, standing because the third-best participant born in 2008 on the year-end no. 1 listing!
Lleyton Hewitt’s 16-year-old son, Cruz, is one step nearer to creating his Grand Slam debut after receiving an Australian Open qualifying wildcard! 🇦🇺
2025 will mark 20 years since his father’s remaining in Melbourne and 28 years after he made his debut Down Below as a 15-year-old. 🤯 pic.twitter.com/Ds0Q1AeVg3
— Eurosport (@eurosport) December 19, 2024
Cruz Hewitt’s Australian Open debut
Lleyton Hewitt debuted on the Australian Open in 1997 on Courtroom 3 at 15. Twenty-seven years later, he watched his 15-year-old son Cruz play his first match of the junior Australian Open on the identical court docket!
Hewitt confronted Alexander Razeghi and skilled a 6-2, 6-3 defeat in an hour and 26 minutes. Cruz struggled behind the preliminary shot, dropping nearly half of the factors and getting damaged 4 occasions from seven possibilities introduced to his rival.
Razeghi introduced dependable numbers behind the preliminary shot, dropping ten factors and dealing with just one break level. The Aussie transformed it, nevertheless it was inadequate to maintain him in rivalry. Alexander suffered an early break initially of the duel.
He served properly after that and stored the strain on the 15-year-old. The house favourite kicked off the duel with a break at love after the rival’s double fault. Hewitt received damaged at 15 within the second recreation and sprayed a forehand error two video games later to search out himself 3-1 behind.
Razeghi landed a service winner within the seventh recreation for 5-2. The American used the rival’s errors within the subsequent one, offering his third break and wrapping up the opener 6-2. Alexander made a push on the return early within the second set.
He fired a backhand crosscourt winner within the second recreation for a break and a 2-0 benefit. Cruz confronted three break factors within the fourth recreation, denying them and holding to cut back the deficit. The 15-year-old held within the sixth recreation however stood powerless on the return.
The American grabbed the seventh recreation at love, shifting 5-2 up and nearer to the end line. Alexander served for the win at 5-3 and held at love, displaying Cruz the exit door.
Cruz’s first main-draw skilled win
Hewitt didn’t qualify for the principle draw on the M25 Traralgon Futures in February. He returned to skilled occasions six months later, incomes the main-draw wild card on the M15 occasion in Bali. The 15-year-old defeated world no. 993 Thijmen Loof 6-4, 6-4 for his first ATP level!
Cruz used the momentum from his back-to-back junior titles and achieved a milestone victory in Bali. The Aussie served at solely 54% towards the Dutchman. It was hardly an impediment for Hewitt, who dropped six factors behind the primary serve and received damaged two occasions.
The extra skilled participant wanted extra to remain aggressive. Cruz took 45% of the return factors and turned them into 4 breaks from as many possibilities, outplaying his opponent within the pivotal moments. The 15-year-old kicked off the motion with a break at 15 within the first recreation of the duel.
He offered two fantastic holds in video games two and 4 for a 3-1 benefit. Thijmen struggled behind the preliminary shot within the fifth recreation, dropping serve for the second time and pushing a youngster 4-1 in entrance. Cruz served for the set at 5-2 and suffered the primary break.
The Dutchman held within the ninth recreation, taking three straight video games and hoping for a turnaround. Nevertheless, Hewitt held at 15 in recreation ten, clinching the opener 6-4 and gaining momentum. Cruz delivered one other break within the third recreation of the second set.
The Aussie held at love a couple of minutes later, taking part in properly and controlling the scoreboard. Loof bounced again and earned a break in recreation six, leveling the rating at 3-3. They served properly for 4-4 earlier than Hewitt stepped in on the return in recreation 9.
A youngster secured a break at 15, constructing one other benefit and serving for the win. Cruz left strain behind and held at 15, celebrating his first main-draw skilled win and his first ATP level at 15.
