Former world No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt marked his comeback to the tennis scene after an almost six-year hiatus by teaming up with his 16-year-old son, Cruz, for an impressive win. The father-son duo dominated their match against Hayden Jones and Pavle Marinkov, triumphing with a score of 6-1, 6-0 in just under an hour.
Receiving a wildcard entry into the main draw of the NSW Open, a Challenger event in Sydney, Hewitt and his son showcased their prowess on the court. With Hewitt sporting his signature backward cap, the pair successfully defended all four break points they encountered, swiftly advancing to the quarter-finals.
Having last played singles professionally in 2016, Hewitt officially bid farewell to doubles competition at the 2020 Australian Open. Despite the gap in his playing career, Hewitt displayed top form in the recent match, exhibiting comfort and skill on the Ken Rosewall Arena, sealing the win with a decisive net winner.
Post-retirement, Hewitt has stayed active in the tennis realm as the captain of Australia’s Davis Cup team, actively supporting his son, Cruz, who is making strides in his own tennis journey. Cruz, a junior Grand Slam participant, is progressively gaining recognition in the Challenger circuit.
Earlier this year, Cruz engaged in the Wimbledon boys’ singles event, where tensions arose between him and his father during a match. Despite initial success, Cruz faced a defeat in the second round to Oskari Paldanius.
Ranked currently at No. 759 in the world, Cruz Hewitt expressed frustration on the court, accusing his father of playing to the cameras and disregarding his advice. Despite encountering setbacks, Cruz continues to elevate his game at the Challenger level, achieving notable victories in recent tournaments.
Most recently in Brisbane, Cruz secured his inaugural win at the Challenger level by defeating James McCabe before ultimately falling to Wu Tung-lin in a competitive three-set match. Despite subsequent victories and exits in the singles draw, Cruz’s ranking has reached a career-high of 759, demonstrating his growing potential in the tennis landscape.
Partnering with his father in the doubles format at the ongoing tournament in Brisbane, Cruz and Lleyton Hewitt advanced to the quarter-finals, setting up a clash against an all-Australian pair, Calum Puttergill and Dane Sweeny.
