Cruz Hewitt – son of Lleyton – wins on senior debut
Cruz Hewitt, the 17-year-old son of former Wimbledon champion and world number one Lleyton Hewitt, secured his first ATP tour victory on his main draw debut at the Washington Open. The Australian teenager beat fellow qualifier Marcos Giron of the United States 6-3, 6-4 in 74 minutes, marking a significant early milestone in his professional career at the same tournament his father won in 2004.
The win came at a venue with strong family significance, as Lleyton Hewitt claimed one of his 30 career titles there, alongside major triumphs such as the 2002 Wimbledon men's singles crown. Cruz, who reached the boys' singles final at Wimbledon this year, celebrated with his father's trademark bicep-curl gesture and described seeing his father's name on the tournament's ring of champions as "surreal" and inspirational. He could next face top seed and defending champion Alex de Minaur, who plays Stefanos Tsitsipas on Wednesday.
- Cruz Hewitt, 17, wins first ATP match at Washington Open
- Beat Marcos Giron 6-3, 6-4 in father Lleyton's old title venue
- Could next face top seed Alex de Minaur
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Cruz Hewitt is a 17-year-old Australian tennis player and son of Lleyton Hewitt, one of the sport's greatest champions, who won Wimbledon in 2002 and reached world number one. Growing up in a tennis family, Cruz has followed his father into professional tennis and this year reached the boys' singles final at Wimbledon before progressing to senior competition. The Hewitt name carries significant prestige in tennis history.
The ATP tour is the highest tier of professional men's tennis, where players compete in tournaments worldwide for ranking points and prize money. A player's main draw debut – their first appearance in the main tournament bracket alongside established professionals – is a crucial moment in any young player's career, and achieving victory at this stage is an unusual accomplishment for a teenager. Cruz achieved this at the Washington Open in the United States.
The venue holds particular significance for the Hewitt family, as Lleyton won one of his 30 career titles at the Washington Open in 2004. For a young player to succeed at a tournament already marked by his father's achievement underscores both the continuing legacy of the Hewitt family in professional tennis and the early promise Cruz is showing in his own career.