Former world No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt marked a successful comeback to the tennis scene after a near six-year retirement period by teaming up with his 16-year-old son, Cruz, for an impressive win. The father-son duo dominated their match against Hayden Jones and Pavle Marinkov, triumphing with a 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 his son displayed exceptional skill and composure, fending off all four break points they encountered and swiftly advancing to the quarter-finals.
Having bid farewell to singles competition in 2016 and doubles in the 2020 Australian Open, Hewitt, a two-time Grand Slam victor, showcased no signs of rustiness during their recent match. The 44-year-old exhibited a comfortable performance at the Ken Rosewall Arena, sealing the victory with a decisive net winner.
Since stepping away from professional play, Hewitt has remained active in tennis as the captain of Australia’s Davis Cup team, actively supporting his son Cruz as the young talent forges his own path in the sport. Cruz, who has participated in junior Grand Slam events and is gaining recognition in the Challenger circuit, recently faced some setbacks but has been steadily progressing.
Despite encountering challenges on the court, including an early exit in the men’s Australian Open qualifying earlier this year, Cruz has shown improvement at the Challenger level in recent competitions. Achieving his first Challenger-level win in Brisbane against James McCabe before falling to Wu Tung-lin, Cruz continued to impress with another victory before exiting in the second round.
Currently holding a career-high ranking of 759, Cruz Hewitt continues to make strides in his tennis journey, securing wins and facing tough opponents. Teaming up with his father Lleyton Hewitt in the doubles event, the duo is set to compete against another Australian pair, Calum Puttergill and Dane Sweeny, in their upcoming match.