Former world No. 1 tennis player Lleyton Hewitt marked his comeback to the sport after nearly six years of retirement by teaming up with his 16-year-old son, Cruz, for an impressive win. Competing in the NSW Open Challenger event in Sydney, the father-son pair dominated their opponents, Hayden Jones and Pavle Marinkov, with a swift 6-1, 6-0 victory in just under an hour.
Securing a wildcard entry into the main draw, Hewitt and Cruz showcased their skills on the court, fending off all four break points against them and advancing to the quarter-finals in remarkable fashion. Despite retiring from singles competition in 2016 and from doubles only in 2020, Hewitt displayed no signs of rustiness during the match, displaying his expertise as they sealed the win with a net winner.
Since stepping away from professional play, Hewitt has remained active in the tennis scene as the captain of Australia’s Davis Cup team, while also supporting his son’s burgeoning career in the sport. Cruz, who has participated in junior Grand Slam events, is now making a name for himself on the Challenger circuit, showing promise and determination in his matches.
Although facing some setbacks, including a recent first-round defeat in the men’s Australian Open qualifiers, Cruz has shown progress at the Challenger level. Notably, he achieved his first Challenger-level victory in Brisbane by defeating world No. 192 James McCabe before falling to Wu Tung-lin in a closely contested match. Continuing his momentum, Cruz secured another win before exiting in the following round.
With a current ranking high of No. 759, Cruz Hewitt has been proving his potential on the court, overcoming challenges and competing fiercely. Teaming up with his father in the doubles competition, the duo is gearing up to take on Calum Puttergill and Dane Sweeny in their upcoming match, aiming to continue their impressive run in the tournament.