In a heartwarming display of sporting family legacy, former world number one Lleyton Hewitt has briefly emerged from retirement to play a professional doubles match alongside his teenage son, Cruz. The 44-year-old Australian tennis legend, a two-time Grand Slam champion, partnered with his 16-year-old heir for a memorable outing at the NSW Open in Sydney.
A Dominant Father-Son Victory
The highly anticipated return, marking Hewitt's first competitive match in five years, was a swift and commanding affair. Playing on the Ken Rosewall Arena at the Challenger Tour event, the Hewitt duo faced their young Australian compatriots, Hayden Jones and Pavle Marinkov. The experienced pairing needed only 46 minutes to secure a resounding victory, with a final scoreline of 6-1, 6-0.
Despite his lengthy absence from the professional tour, Lleyton Hewitt showed glimpses of the form that made him a world-beater. Observers noted that the veteran seemed never to have left the court, exemplified by a perfectly weighted backhand slice to win the match. Following the victory, father and son celebrated with a firm fist bump and a warm embrace, a poignant moment after Cruz's recent frustrations in the singles draw at Wimbledon.
Mixed Fortunes for the Younger Hewitt
While the doubles partnership proved triumphant, it was otherwise a challenging day for Cruz Hewitt. The 16-year-old, who was granted a wildcard to compete in the tournament, also played his first-round singles match. He faced Japan's Hayato Matsuoka, who came through the qualifying rounds, but ultimately suffered a defeat in a hard-fought three-set battle, 7-5, 3-6, 5-7.
This result contrasts with a recent high for the young player. Despite previous struggles on the Challenger Tour, Cruz currently holds an ATP ranking of 759 and recently reached the semi-finals of the M25 event in Brisbane, where he was eventually eliminated by world number 215, David Sweeney.
The Hewitt Tennis Legacy Continues
Lleyton Hewitt, who is now the captain of Australia's Davis Cup team, officially retired from singles competition after the 2016 Australian Open. However, he continued to play doubles matches until 2020. The champion recently revealed that during his illustrious career, he had even contemplated leaving tennis to pursue Australian Rules Football.
Cruz is one of three children Lleyton shares with his wife, former Australian actress Bec Hewitt. This special doubles match not only marked a brief and successful comeback for the tennis great but also signalled a promising, albeit early, step in the professional journey of his son.
