Cruz Hewitt sent packing from Australian Open juniors

Cruz Hewitt may be the future of Aussie tennis, but the teenagers hopes of claiming an Australian Open crown are on hold for now.

Cruz Hewitt’s Australian Open campaign has come to an end.

The Aussie teenager was knocked out of the junior boys singles on Monday after going up against first seed Jan Kumstat who secured the 6-3 7-6 victory.

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The son of Australian tennis icon Lleyton attempted the channel his famous father as he revved up the home crowd on court three.

While he gave the top seed his all, the 16-year-old wasn’t to be as he was unable to back up his first-round victory on Saturday night.

Kumstat, 18, used his size and power advantage to sweep Cruz aside in the opening set before the Aussie fought back in the second.

Decked out in an all yellow outfit, Cruz topped off his look with a backwards yellow cap just like his old man used to.

Cruz Hewitt has been knocked out. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

Cruz pumped his fist and roared ‘c’mon’ as the crowd roared back when he saved a match point with a fast and wide serve which Kumstat was unable to get back over the net.

Hewitt had a set point of his own, but his Czech opponent served his way out of trouble as he delivered his 12th ace of the match at a decisive time.

It was always going to be an uphill battle for the South Australian against Kumstat, who was runner-up in last year’s junior boys final to historic Japanese winner Rei Sakamoto.

The Czech young gun had hit 36 winners to 13 when Hewitt belted two on consecutive points to push ahead in the tie-break.

While he could not match his power, Hewitt was again reliable at the baseline, making only 20 unforced errors to his opponent’s 37.

The defeat brought an end to his summer at Melbourne Park after a maiden appearance in men’s qualifying earlier this month and a first-round junior doubles exit on Sunday alongside fellow Aussie Duje Markovina.

The future is bright for Cruz. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

While his run may be over, the future is undoubtedly bright for the player many Aussies hope will emulate the feats of his father.

Cruz finished 2024 with a record of 30 wins and 10 losses, having won two ITF junior titles and claimed his first professional win in August.

His rank outside the top 100 juniors is a misleading one given the fact the majority of players ahead of him are older.

Cruz is 15th among players born in 2008 and has made huge strides in the last 18 months.

Suggestions Hewitt’s rise this summer has been the result of “nepotism” were shut down by Todd Woodbridge earlier in the Australian Open.

- with Ed Bourke, NCA Newswire