Lleyton Hewitt, the former world No. 1 in tennis, marked his comeback after nearly six years of retirement by partnering with his 16-year-old son, Cruz, to achieve an impressive win. The father-son duo dominated their match against Hayden Jones and Pavle Marinkov, triumphing with a scoreline of 6-1, 6-0 in just under an hour.
Given a wildcard entry into the main draw of the NSW Open, a Challenger event held in Sydney, Hewitt and his son capitalized on the opportunity. The iconic sight of Hewitt in his trademark backwards cap, alongside his son, showcased their resilience as they saved all four break points they encountered, securing a swift advancement to the quarter-finals.
Although Hewitt, a two-time Grand Slam titleholder, retired from singles competition in 2016 and from doubles in 2020 at the Australian Open, his performance in the recent match displayed no signs of rustiness. The 44-year-old exhibited composure and skill on the Ken Rosewall Arena, sealing the victory with a decisive net winner.
Post-retirement, Hewitt has remained active in tennis as the captain of Australia’s Davis Cup team, all while supporting his son, Cruz, as he paves his own path in the sport. Cruz, who has participated in junior Grand Slam tournaments, is progressively leaving his mark on the Challenger circuit.
Despite facing challenges on the court, Cruz has shown improvement at the Challenger level in recent weeks, with notable victories and competitive matches. With a current ranking of No. 759 globally, Cruz has demonstrated his potential by claiming victories and making steady progress in various tournaments.
In an upcoming match, Hewitt and his son are scheduled to compete against another Australian duo, Calum Puttergill and Dane Sweeny, in the quarter-finals. This matchup promises to be an exciting display of talent and camaraderie on the doubles court.