Australian Open 2024: Cruz Hewitt knocked in round 1 of junior boy’s tournament

The Australian Open for Cruz Hewitt, son of Lleyton and Bec may be over, but the comparisons to his father may have only just begun after a raucous reception at Melbourne Park.

There was a white Nike hat worn backwards, a gold necklace draped around his neck and barely a spare seat in the house.

An ‘Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi ’ chant quickly rang around the court … and it was only four minutes into a round 1 junior boy’s match.

But when a kid called Hewitt breaks his opponent to love in the opening service game, you know things are bound to get rowdy.

No, this was not Lleyton Hewitt. But the mannerisms shared with his 15-year-old son, Cruz, were uncanny.

Cruz Hewitt tugged on his shirt and straightened his cap between points, and slid from side to side of the court with the same spirit his old man was known for.

Love was in the stands as parents Lleyton and Bec looked on, seated in the first and second rows respectively.

Then, two dampeners hit the Hewitt party.

Opponent Alexander Razeghi reeled off the next four games, either side of two rain delays.

But the fans refused to move their feet despite the droplets falling from the sky.

The Hewitt clan watches on. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

When Hewitt held serve for the first time, another ‘Aussie, Aussie, Aussie’ chant – albeit with fewer decibels – rang around the 3000-seat stadium.

However hope from that opening game quickly turned to hurt, with Cruz crushed 6-2 6-3 by Razeghi, the No. 6 seed from Houston.

But the 17-year-old who hails from Mason Cox territory walked away impressed by what he saw across the net.

Cruz Hewitt is just 15 and officially the baby of the junior boys’ draw.

Last week he beat Razeghi’s close mate, Kaylan Bigun, 0-6 7-6 4-3 (retired hurt) in Traralgon.

So Bigun told Razeghi to beware of the Hewitt backhand.

“ (Bigun) said he’s really aggressive on both sides, his backhand line was his best shot – which I think it was – and he’s obviously young, so he goes for stuff a bit earlier,” Razeghi told the Herald Sun.

“I obviously hadn’t seen him play, and obviously his dad is one of the legends. So it was good to go out there and adjust as the match went on.”

When Hewitt’s first service game was broken, mum Bec nodded at him as if to say “It’s OK”.

As the second set wore on, Lleyton became emotional and undoubtedly laden with pride.

It had been 28 years since he played juniors at Melbourne Park, and 27 years since he played the first of 20 consecutive Australian Opens (1997-2016).

Lleyton also made his debut on Showcourt 3.

It was the only Australian Open match he ever played outside of Rod Laver Arena.

Hewitt Sr was beaten 6-3 6-4 6-4 by two-time Roland Garros champion Sergi Bruguera.

Like Cruz, he was just 15 – albeit competing as a qualifier in the men’s draw and not the boys back in 1997.

Cruz Hewitt’s tournament is over. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

There were ball boys on the court older than Lleyton.

“As a tennis player, you knew you had to sweat blood to beat him and he was not going to give you anything. There was no weakness in his game,” Bruguera said of the man who would become an Aussie legend.

Razeghi played the three other junior slams last year, but said Sunday was comfortably the craziest crowd that had ever turned up to watch him live.

“My doubles partner is Australian, Hayden Jones, so he told me the deal and what was going to go on,” Razeghi said.

“He just said there’s going to be a good amount of people there – be ready for that.

“The first couple of points (Hewitt) just outplayed me. A little bit of nerves, but I’m a better returner than server so I wasn’t too stressed about it.

“I like returning better and the match had just started.

“But I played my first US Open slam at 15, so I definitely know how the nerves were for him. He’s got really good potential.

“Obviously his dad is one of his coaches, so he’s learning from one of the greats, and I think he has really good potential.

“I really like his game.”

The son of a gun is already a crowd puller, and Australia will be hoping Cruz cruises on.