Seventeen-year-old Cruz Hewitt has become the first Australian to reach the Wimbledon boys' singles final in a decade, following a dominant semi-final victory over Thijs Boogaard of the Netherlands. The son of former champion Lleyton Hewitt won 6-4, 6-4 without dropping a set throughout the tournament, matching the feat of Alex de Minaur in 2014.
Hewitt credited his father, who watched from the stands, for his mental growth. “I think he’s pretty proud,” the teenager said. “He’s happy with how far I’ve come with my mentality, my game style.” Lleyton Hewitt, the 2002 Wimbledon champion, serves as a mentor rather than a full-time coach, with Wayne Arthurs filling that role.
Despite the pressure of being a famous tennis son, Cruz appears calm. “I do what I can, block out all the other noise,” he said. “I just focus on myself and I just try to do my best each day.” He credited his own personality for helping him handle expectations, unlike other tennis offspring who have struggled.
Hewitt, who now stands around 6ft 2in, has developed a powerful serve averaging 120mph and a strong all-court game. He considers grass his best surface. In Sunday’s final he will face American Jordan Lee, aiming to become the first Australian boys’ champion since 2016.
