Like father like son: Cruz Hewitt emulates former Wimbledon champion dad in winning match at SW19

Monday, 07 July 2025 at 12:50

Cruz Hewitt has long been followed and part of folklore during his fledgling career due to the excellence that his dad Lleyton Hewitt brought to Aussie tennis. He emulated him by winning his first ever match at the All England Lawn & Tennis Club on Sunday morning.

The 16-year-old has entered the junior draw for the first time and saw off Savva Rybkin 6-1, 6-2. He was given a wildcard into qualifying for his home Grand Slam at the turn of the year as Tennis Australia look to capitalise on the Hewitt name it seems.

But he had to face former top 16 star, Nikoloz Basilashvili who despite dropping down is still a formidable foe and not one that anyone would like to draw including the 16-year-old. He lost in the opening round.

He also lost in the first round of the French Open juniors last month but has now reached the second round of a junior tournament for the second time. He is yet to make his debut though on the main ATP Tour.

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But while he is rising, his dad Lleyton Hewitt has been quick to temper any expectations surrounding his son after he was criticised for being given training sessions with the top stars.

He also caused a stir for practicing with Jannik Sinner prior to his ban by Nick Kyrgios but it turned out to be more of an issue when it came to Kyrgios's side than Sinner that he was calling this out.

"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."

Samuel GillEditor-in-Chief

Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.

Based in Leicester, Samuel has a broad background in tennis media. In his current role, he works closely with editors and writers to ensure coverage meets clear journalistic standards, with particular attention to verification, consistency, and timely updates when new information becomes available.

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