Former world number one Lleyton Hewitt has made a spectacular return to professional tennis, securing his first victory in nearly six years by partnering with his 16-year-old son, Cruz. The iconic Australian, sporting his signature backwards cap, looked every bit the champion as the duo dominated their opponents in a straight-sets win at the NSW Open in Sydney.
A Dominant Father-Son Debut
The Hewitt pair, granted a wildcard into the main draw of the Challenger event, faced Hayden Jones and Pavle Marinkov on the Ken Rosewall Arena. In a display of sheer control, they clinched the match 6-1, 6-0 in just 48 minutes. The formidable partnership saved all four break points they faced, with the 44-year-old Hewitt sealing the victory with a confident net winner, showing no signs of rust despite his long absence from competitive play.
From Wimbledon Tensions to Sydney Triumph
The successful on-court collaboration comes just months after a publicly visible spat between father and son during the Wimbledon boys' singles tournament. Reports indicated that Cruz, then frustrated during a second-round loss, accused his father of "acting for the cameras" and dismissed his advice from the player's box. At one point, the teenager snapped "It's not fine, it's nearly four-love!" to his support team. This recent victory in Sydney marks a significant and positive shift in their dynamic, transforming past friction into a powerful sporting alliance.
Cruz Hewitt: Carving His Own Path
While his father is a two-time Grand Slam champion, Cruz Hewitt is diligently building his own career in tennis. Currently ranked at a career-high world No. 759, the teenager has been gaining valuable experience on the Challenger circuit. He recently secured his first main-draw victory at this level in Brisbane and is a competitor in junior Grand Slam events. Since his official retirement from doubles at the 2020 Australian Open, Lleyton Hewitt has remained deeply involved in the sport as captain of Australia's Davis Cup team, often seen supporting his son from the sidelines.
The victorious pair now advance to the quarter-finals, where they are set to face the all-Australian team of Calum Puttergill and Dane Sweeny.
