Cruz Hewitt, the 17-year-old son of former Wimbledon champion Lleyton Hewitt, has advanced to the quarterfinals of the boys' singles at the All England Club, marking the first time an Australian has reached this stage since Alex de Minaur a decade ago. The unseeded Sydneysider defeated second seed Jamie Mackenzie of Germany 6-3 6-4 in just 69 minutes on Wednesday (Thursday AEST), showcasing the promise that has drawn comparisons to his illustrious father.
A Chip Off the Old Block
Lleyton Hewitt, who won the Wimbledon men's title in 2002, has been a constant presence in his son's corner, warming him up before matches and offering support from the sidelines. Cruz, currently ranked No.606 in the ATP rankings and rising, acknowledged his father's role in his success. "I've warmed up with him every day, so he helps me a lot. Obviously, having him on the sidelines has helped, just to support me being there. I'm grateful for him in my corner," he said.
The younger Hewitt is the first Australian to reach the boys' quarterfinals since Alex de Minaur in 2016, who went on to reach the final before losing to Canadian Denis Shapovalov. Cruz has not hidden his ambitions, saying, "Every tournament, you come in and you hope to win it, but I'm just here taking it one match at a time."
Next Challenge Awaits
In the quarterfinals, Cruz will face Bulgarian ninth seed Dimitar Kisimov on Thursday (Friday AEST). He expressed confidence in his form after the win over Mackenzie. "I think I played pretty good match and feel like I did the right things. It's good to get the win, I'm pretty happy to be in the quarter-finals and happy that I get to play another match at this tournament," he said.
Despite the pressure of being the son of a legend, Cruz has embraced the attention from Australian fans at SW19. "The Australian people in the crowd have just been really good. I got a few 'Aussie, Aussie, Aussies!' today, and that definitely helps, gets my energy up. I perform better in those type of situations on the court," he said.
Choosing the Senior Circuit
Cruz has deliberately skipped junior events since last year's US Open, opting instead to compete on the senior World Tennis circuit to harden his game. The strategy has paid off, with the teenager already reaching one final and a semifinal on grass courts, a surface that clearly suits his game.
Lleyton Hewitt was playing in the invitational doubles event alongside Italian Fabio Fognini on No.2 Court during Cruz's match, but has been courtside for his son's previous wins. The father-son dynamic has drawn significant interest around the grounds, but Cruz remains focused on his own journey. "I showed my appreciation to those who were cheering for me and basically helping me get over the line. I appreciate everyone who does that," he said.
