Wimbledon breakthrough: Lleyton Hewitt's teenage son Cruz Hewitt powers into second round with dominant display
Sporting his dad's signature backwards cap, the 16-year-old dispatched Russia's Savva Rybkin 6-1, 6-2 in the opening round of the boys' singles on Sunday, sending a clear signal that he is ready to step out of the shadow of his two-time Grand Slam-winning father.
It marks another milestone in what is shaping up to be a promising junior career for the teenager, who earlier this year made the second round at the Junior Australian Open after being handed a wildcard into men's qualifying, where he faced a baptism of fire against former world No.20 Nikoloz Basilashvili.
Cruz will face a tougher challenge in the second round at SW19 - a showdown with 11th seed Oskari Paldanius of Finland.
His father, who also captured the 2001 US Open and remains the last Aussie man to lift a Grand Slam singles trophy, watched proudly from the stands as his son made light work of his first-round opponent.
But Cruz isn't simply aiming to follow in his father's footsteps - he wants to surpass them.
'There's definitely pros and cons (to being a Hewitt) but I try to focus on the good things that come with it,' he told Channel 9 earlier this year.
'The pressure doesn't bother me too much, I feel like it's kind of a challenge to be better than him, so that's what I'm trying to do.'
The younger Hewitt said his experience at the Australian Open gave him a valuable taste of the professional circuit and revealed the gulf between junior and senior competition.
'It's good to be here and it was great to get the opportunity to play in the men's qualifying,' he said.
'I think it was a great step forward and I learned a lot from the experience with the crowd and just playing those men's players instead of the junior players.
'I feel like playing the men, every point is the same level and there's no let-up (whereas) in juniors, you get a few cheaper points here and there.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sydney Morning Herald
an hour ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Missed chances and baseline warfare: The key moments from captivating Demon-Djoker clash
It was just the second time this tournament that the former world No.1 had dropped serve. But arguably the key moment in deciding where this set was headed came in the second game, when Djokovic had the chance to immediately break back on de Minaur's serve. Djokovic made a decent-enough return, which de Minaur countered with a backhand slice, but the Serbian superstar lost balance and awkwardly flayed a forehand well long. De Minaur held two points later for 2-0, then benefited from another erratic Djokovic serving performance in the fifth game. Djokovic dumped a mid-court backhand into the net, then double-faulted on the second point and again at break point to fall 4-1 behind. One last unforced error off Djokovic's racquet – his 16th for the set – handed de Minaur a 6-1 lead. Demon misses his chance Second set, Djokovic wins 6-4 Any number of points seemed like crucial ones throughout this set as Djokovic began to assert his authority on the contest, only for de Minaur to repeatedly hit back. After they traded breaks to begin the second set, Djokovic poured the pressure on again to restrict de Minaur to 30-40. An incredible 35-shot rally followed, ending with de Minaur missing a backhand slice down the line. Djokovic sensed the moment, putting his finger behind his right ear and urging the crowd to make some noise. But de Minaur reeled in his 3-1 deficit to again level the set through six games. Djokovic came out on top in another titanic rally in the seventh game – this time 31 shots – to leave de Minaur 0-30, and the Australian eventually relented on serve. However, the critical moment for the set was still to come as Djokovic served to level the match at a set-all. De Minaur had already had a break point, but the second one was where his big chance came, on a Djokovic second serve. The Aussie pounced on it, pounded a forehand at Djokovic's feet, then, on a mid-court ball, ballooned a forehand long. Djokovic clinched the set two points later. Impatience costs de Minaur Third set, Djokovic wins 6-4 Both players fended off a break point each to start the set, and they held until four-all, when Djokovic made his move. De Minaur found himself in a 15-40 hole, but a superb inside-out forehand set up the easiest of put-away volleys. On the second break point, he nailed a 206km/h first serve out wide – exactly what he was after – that enabled him to step into the court, but he sprayed a forehand wide going for a winner. De Minaur's aggressive mindset helped him throughout the match, but, just like the previous set, his impatience and lack of execution at a key time cost him dearly. Djokovic leaked a forehand error in the next game to fall to 30-all, but was celebrating a two-sets-to-one lead soon after when he won a 27-shot rally with the simplest of dinks into the opposite service box. The damage was done two shots earlier when he ripped a cross-court forehand that sent de Minaur scurrying off court before forcing him to sprint across the other side with an off forehand near the opposite sideline. Brutal baseline warfare Fourth set, Djokovic wins 6-4 After saving a break point in the opening game, de Minaur stormed to a 4-1 lead as he threatened to send the match to a deciding fifth set. Djokovic even faced a break point to go 5-1 down, where de Minaur could not quite chase down an angled drop volley that ended up being his only opportunity for the game. The 24-time major champion made it out of the game without further damage, then tightened the screws. De Minaur defended back-to-back break points on excellent second serves and baseline play that drew Djokovic errors and got him back to deuce. But the Australian went break point down again trying to force the issue on his forehand. This is where Djokovic showed his mettle. A 32-shot rally followed of side-to-side brutal baseline warfare, but Djokovic took the initiative on a de Minaur backhand slice to rip a cross-court forehand on an extreme angle before crushing an inside-out forehand winner. Loading Starting with the final two points of that game, Djokovic captured 14 of the last 15 to complete his four-set defeat of a gallant de Minaur, who was left ruing his performance on the biggest of points. De Minaur won 36 of 52 points on rallies lasting nine shots or longer – an extraordinary feat – but Djokovic claimed four such exchanges mentioned above of 27 shots-plus at clutch moments that helped decide the match. Marc McGowan travelled to Wimbledon with the support of Tennis Australia.
The Age
an hour ago
- The Age
Missed chances and baseline warfare: The key moments from captivating Demon-Djoker clash
It was just the second time this tournament that the former world No.1 had dropped serve. But arguably the key moment in deciding where this set was headed came in the second game, when Djokovic had the chance to immediately break back on de Minaur's serve. Djokovic made a decent-enough return, which de Minaur countered with a backhand slice, but the Serbian superstar lost balance and awkwardly flayed a forehand well long. De Minaur held two points later for 2-0, then benefited from another erratic Djokovic serving performance in the fifth game. Djokovic dumped a mid-court backhand into the net, then double-faulted on the second point and again at break point to fall 4-1 behind. One last unforced error off Djokovic's racquet – his 16th for the set – handed de Minaur a 6-1 lead. Demon misses his chance Second set, Djokovic wins 6-4 Any number of points seemed like crucial ones throughout this set as Djokovic began to assert his authority on the contest, only for de Minaur to repeatedly hit back. After they traded breaks to begin the second set, Djokovic poured the pressure on again to restrict de Minaur to 30-40. An incredible 35-shot rally followed, ending with de Minaur missing a backhand slice down the line. Djokovic sensed the moment, putting his finger behind his right ear and urging the crowd to make some noise. But de Minaur reeled in his 3-1 deficit to again level the set through six games. Djokovic came out on top in another titanic rally in the seventh game – this time 31 shots – to leave de Minaur 0-30, and the Australian eventually relented on serve. However, the critical moment for the set was still to come as Djokovic served to level the match at a set-all. De Minaur had already had a break point, but the second one was where his big chance came, on a Djokovic second serve. The Aussie pounced on it, pounded a forehand at Djokovic's feet, then, on a mid-court ball, ballooned a forehand long. Djokovic clinched the set two points later. Impatience costs de Minaur Third set, Djokovic wins 6-4 Both players fended off a break point each to start the set, and they held until four-all, when Djokovic made his move. De Minaur found himself in a 15-40 hole, but a superb inside-out forehand set up the easiest of put-away volleys. On the second break point, he nailed a 206km/h first serve out wide – exactly what he was after – that enabled him to step into the court, but he sprayed a forehand wide going for a winner. De Minaur's aggressive mindset helped him throughout the match, but, just like the previous set, his impatience and lack of execution at a key time cost him dearly. Djokovic leaked a forehand error in the next game to fall to 30-all, but was celebrating a two-sets-to-one lead soon after when he won a 27-shot rally with the simplest of dinks into the opposite service box. The damage was done two shots earlier when he ripped a cross-court forehand that sent de Minaur scurrying off court before forcing him to sprint across the other side with an off forehand near the opposite sideline. Brutal baseline warfare Fourth set, Djokovic wins 6-4 After saving a break point in the opening game, de Minaur stormed to a 4-1 lead as he threatened to send the match to a deciding fifth set. Djokovic even faced a break point to go 5-1 down, where de Minaur could not quite chase down an angled drop volley that ended up being his only opportunity for the game. The 24-time major champion made it out of the game without further damage, then tightened the screws. De Minaur defended back-to-back break points on excellent second serves and baseline play that drew Djokovic errors and got him back to deuce. But the Australian went break point down again trying to force the issue on his forehand. This is where Djokovic showed his mettle. A 32-shot rally followed of side-to-side brutal baseline warfare, but Djokovic took the initiative on a de Minaur backhand slice to rip a cross-court forehand on an extreme angle before crushing an inside-out forehand winner. Loading Starting with the final two points of that game, Djokovic captured 14 of the last 15 to complete his four-set defeat of a gallant de Minaur, who was left ruing his performance on the biggest of points. De Minaur won 36 of 52 points on rallies lasting nine shots or longer – an extraordinary feat – but Djokovic claimed four such exchanges mentioned above of 27 shots-plus at clutch moments that helped decide the match. Marc McGowan travelled to Wimbledon with the support of Tennis Australia.
ABC News
an hour ago
- ABC News
Starstruck Mirra Andreeva didn't realise she won match point at Wimbledon
Mirra Andreeva was the last person on Centre Court to realise she beat Emma Navarro, a result that made her the youngest woman in 18 years to reach the Wimbledon quarterfinals. Andreeva was so focused on not thinking about the score — and avoiding looking at Roger Federer — that the 18-year-old Russian did not realise the fourth-round match was over when Navarro netted a forehand. So instead of celebrating a 6-2, 6-3 win, the seventh-seeded Andreeva calmly turned back to her baseline and started fiddling with her racket, seemingly getting ready for the next point. It wasn't until she noticed the reaction from the crowd — and coach Conchita Martinez — that it dawned on her she won. "Honestly, I just kept telling myself that I'm facing break points. I tried to tell myself that I'm not the one who is up on the score, I'm the one who is down," Andreeva said in an on-court interview. "In the end I completely forgot the score. I'm happy that I did it because I think that [otherwise] I would be three times more nervous on the match point." Andreeva became the youngest player since Nicole Vaidisova in 2007 to reach the women's quarterfinals at the grass-court grand slam. The score was not the only thing Andreeva tried to ignore. She was also afraid to look up at the Royal Box, where eight-time Wimbledon champion Federer was sitting with his wife Mirka. "I really tried my best not to look over there in the box, because I knew that as soon as I would look there I would just completely lose my focus," she said, before addressing the couple directly. "Honestly, it means a lot to me that you came and watched my match. It's been one of my dreams to see you in real life. So when I saw both of you I got really, really nervous." The 10th-seeded Navarro had beaten defending champion Barbora Krejcikova in the previous round, ensuring there would be yet another first-time champion. It will be the ninth different women's champion in the past nine Wimbledons. Serena Williams was the last repeat champ in 2016. Andreeva will next face Belinda Bencic, who also reached her first Wimbledon quarterfinal — 11 years after making her debut at the All England Club. Bencic beat 18th-seeded Ekaterina Alexandrova 7-6 (7-4), 6-4 earlier on number one court. Bencic, who lost in the fourth round on three previous occasions, failed to convert five match points while serving at 5-3 in the second set. But on the sixth one, Alexandrova sent a forehand long. "For you guys it was entertaining," Bencic said about that marathon game at 5-3, where Alexandrova finally converted her fourth break point to stay in the match. "For me it was a big stress." Bencic's best result at a grand slam was reaching the semifinals at the 2019 US Open, where she also reached the quarters on two other occasions. The Tokyo Olympic champion, playing at Wimbledon for the ninth time, had not been into the last eight at any of the other three majors, until now. Bencic missed last year's grass court grand slam tournament while she was on maternity leave, having given birth to her first child — a daughter named Bella — in April 2024. She said travelling with a child on tour was still relatively easy, with Bella being so young, but that she was spending a lot more time taking pictures when she's at tournaments. "I'm juggling it like every mum does," Bencic said. "So, props to the mums." Also, 19th seed Liudmila Samsonova reached her first grand slam quarterfinal by beating Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 7-5, 7-5 on number two court. Samsonova has yet to drop a set this tournament and will face former world number one Iga Swiatek, who reached her second Wimbledon quarterfinal by beating Clara Tauson 6-4, 6-1. AP
