Former world No. 1 tennis player, Lleyton Hewitt, marked a remarkable comeback to the sport alongside his 16-year-old son, Cruz, following a near six-year retirement. The father-son duo delivered an impressive performance, defeating Hayden Jones and Pavle Marinkov with a commanding score of 6-1, 6-0 in just under an hour.
Securing a wildcard entry into the main draw of the NSW Open in Sydney, Hewitt and Cruz showcased their prowess on the court, successfully navigating past all four break points they encountered and advancing to the quarter-finals swiftly.
Hewitt, a two-time Grand Slam winner, bid farewell to singles competition in 2016, with his official retirement from doubles occurring at the 2020 Australian Open. However, the 44-year-old displayed no signs of rustiness in the recent match, exhibiting comfort and skill on the Ken Rosewall Arena as he sealed the victory with a decisive net winner.
Following his retirement, Hewitt has been actively engaged in the tennis scene as the captain of Australia’s Davis Cup team, actively supporting his son Cruz as he establishes his own career in the sport. Cruz, having participated in junior Grand Slam events and making strides in the Challenger circuit, is carving out a promising path for himself.
Despite facing some setbacks, including an early exit in the men’s Australian Open qualifying round this year, Cruz has shown progress at the Challenger level in recent competitions. Notably, he achieved his first Challenger-level victory in Brisbane by defeating James McCabe before falling to Wu Tung-lin in a competitive three-set match.
With a current career-best ranking of No. 759, Cruz demonstrated his potential by triumphing over fellow Australian Omar Jasika and later engaging in a hard-fought battle against Matsuoka Hayato, before joining forces with his father in the doubles event and securing a spot in the quarter-finals.
Their next challenge awaits as they are scheduled to compete against another Australian pair, Calum Puttergill and Dane Sweeny, in the upcoming match. The duo continues to impress on the court, showcasing their skills and determination in pursuit of further success in the tournament.