Lleyton Hewitt son Cruz Hewitt hasn’t had the same big start into tennis as his former world number one father, falling in the first round of the Australian Open boys’ singles. Twenty-seven years after Hewitt made history as the youngest qualifier to enter the Open main event at the age of 15, Cruz lost 6-2, 6-3 against American Alexander Razeghi.
Sporting a sideways cap and a two-handed backhand startlingly similar to his former world No.1 old man, Cruz looked a dead ringer for Hewitt on Show Court 3 at Melbourne Park on Sunday. Also read: Novak Djokovic pushed by Alexei Popyrin-Australian Open 2024
Cruz Hewitt is the son of Lleyton Hewitt, the former world number one from Australia. Darrian Traynor/Getty Images. Despite the loss, Lleyton Hewitt claimed he was “unbelievably proud” of Cruz’s Open appearance.
“He’s still very young. This is all a learning experience,” Hewitt told Channel Nine. “They asked me late last night if I would go out and warm him up this morning” on Show Court 3. Just a really special moment. The 15-year-old refused to talk to the media following the straight-sets loss. Also read: Wimbledon’s Grand Vision: A New Stadium and 38 Courts
“My first-ever main draw match at the Australian Open was actually out on Show Court 3 as well. “Just some great memories coming back of me playing here. He’s been around the traps, but he’s worked extremely hard to get this opportunity. He is playing well.”