Cruz Hewitt, the 17-year-old son of former Wimbledon champion Lleyton Hewitt, has advanced to the boys' singles final at Wimbledon after a straight-sets victory over Thijs Boogaard of the Netherlands. The Australian won 6-4, 6-4 in the semi-final, becoming the first player from his country to reach the final since Alex de Minaur a decade ago. Remarkably, Hewitt has achieved this feat without dropping a single set throughout the tournament.
Father's Pride and Support
Lleyton Hewitt, the former world No. 1 and 2002 Wimbledon champion, was seated courtside and visibly delighted. After the match, he gave his son a celebratory pat on the back. Cruz acknowledged his father's pride, stating, "I think he's pretty proud. He's happy with how far I've come with my mentality, my game style." While Wayne Arthurs serves as his official coach, Lleyton acts as a mentor and constant source of positivity. Cruz added, "He's in my corner. Every time I look over at him, he's showing me positivity, so that gets me up and about as well."
Practice with Arthur Fery
Before his semi-final, Hewitt practiced with Arthur Fery, the British wildcard who played in the main draw semi-finals on Friday. This routine, repeated throughout the week, helped fine-tune his game. Fery's own run ended in a crushing defeat to Alexander Zverev. Hewitt's all-round performance was on display as he broke Boogaard early in the second set and won five of the next six games to seal victory.
Composure and Growth
Hewitt remained composed even after being broken early in the second set, breaking straight back and maintaining his level-headed approach. "I'm really happy with my performance. I was very level-headed, stayed pretty composed throughout that whole match, and that allowed me to play good tennis," he said. Off the court, he is amiable and relaxed, handling media attention with ease. When asked about the pressure of being Lleyton's son, he replied, "It's obviously always there, but I take the positives out of it. I do what I can, block out all the other noise. It doesn't bother me too much."
Physical Development and Weapons
Hewitt appears to have grown since the Australian Open, now standing approximately 6 feet 2 inches tall. This has bolstered his serve, which averaged 120 mph (194 kph) against Boogaard. Combined with a flat backhand and heavy forehand, his game is well-suited to grass, which he considers his best surface. On Sunday, he will face Jordan Lee of the United States for the title, aiming to go one better than De Minaur, who lost the 2016 final to Denis Shapovalov.
Final Preparations
Looking ahead to the final, Hewitt said, "I've just got to do the exact same things I've done all week. I go out there and back myself and then I leave it all out there."
