Cruz Hewitt, Bernard Tomic, Simona Halep land wildcard entries to Aus Open qualifying

The teenage son of Australian tennis legend Lleyton Hewitt, and former world No.17 Bernard Tomic, are two of the high-profile wildcards to gain entry to Australian Open qualifying.

The Hewitt name is back in the mix for an Australian Open with tennis legend Lleyton’s son Cruz handed a qualifying wildcard for the Grand Slam tournament.

While former women’s world No.1 Simona Halep will continue her bid to return to the top of the sport after successfully appealing a doping ban, also receiving a wildcard for Open qualifying.

Tennis Australia confirmed that 16-year-old Cruz Hewitt will join an intriguing field of potential men’s Aussie qualifiers for the Open, headlined by former world No.17 Bernard Tomic – who has fought his way back from the sporting wilderness to sit 214 on the current global rankings.

Jason Kubler and Alex Bolt will also be in the mix for the men’s qualifying, which begins in Melbourne next month.

Cruz Hewitt has been handed an Australian Open qualifying wildcard. Picture: Mark Stewart

Hewitt’s attempt to make the Open main draw comes 27 years after his famous father qualified as a teen wildcard before embarking on a successful career which saw him eventually become world No.1.

Meanwhile on the women’s side of qualifying, Halep will have the chance to make the main draw of the tournament, for which she was a finalist in 2018.

World No.113 Kimberly Birrell of the Gold Coast leads the Aussie charge for women’s qualifying.

She will be joined by Maddison Inglis, Arina Rodionova and Priscilla Hon.

Qualifying will be held at Melbourne Park from January 6 to 9, with 16 players from the men’s and women’s divisions securing spots for the Open.

Originally published as Cruz Hewitt, Bernard Tomic, Simona Halep land wildcard entries to Aus Open qualifying