"He deserves to be there": Nepotism comments surrounding Cruz Hewitt deemed farcical by Lleyton Hewitt and Todd Woodbridge

Lleyton Hewitt had to go to bat for his son Cruz Hewitt amid comments surrounding him decreeing any opportunity that the rising Aussie gets as nepotism.

Hewitt addressed speculation that his son merely got a wildcard into Australian Open qualifying due to the family name and adding the fact that he is suddenly training with all of these big name stars like Djokovic, Sinner and Alcaraz. But he lost in the first round of qualifying which started some abuse levied in his direction.

"It's a long journey,' two-time grand slam winner Lleyton Hewitt said on Tuesday during his stint on Channel Nine.

'I was excited to watch him play. He had a tough draw playing Basilashvili, a former No.16 and a guy who played finals at Indian Wells.

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'For Cruz to be around these guys, Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Alex de Minaur.... what unbelievable role models for him to see how they prepare.

'He is playing well at the moment and it makes me excited when I see him hit with some of these world-class players... he can actually give them a good enough hit out there.'

While Todd Woodbridge also knocked back any claims of nepotism and said that he is there on merit no matter what others say about the situation. Cruz will next play during the boys tournament as he continues to try and make his way in the sport amid nepotism chimes.

"Cruz is in these positions because he is a very good, talented young player and one of our best here in Australia,' he told viewers on Tuesday.

'He deserves every opportunity he has got to be there. Some people [online trolls] would like to say otherwise.

'I know you [Lleyton] have to deal with that and you shouldn't have to, so I am putting it out there — he deserves to be there.'

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