‘Fired up’ son of Aussie tennis royalty secures first pro win

The son of Australian tennis legend Lleyton Hewitt has taken a major step in his own surge towards a professional career while playing in Darwin.

A ‘fired up’ Cruz Hewitt is following in his father’s footsteps after recording his first professional win of his career in Darwin.

The 14-year-old son of Wimbledon, US Open winner and former world number-one Lleyton Hewitt is already carving out his own legacy as one of Australia’s future stars.

Securing his first ever pro win during the first round of qualifiers at the Darwin Tennis International on Sunday, a 3-6, 4-6, 10-5 thriller over Brian Tran, the teenager then followed it up with another belter of a win, a 6-3, 6(4)-7, 10-3 win over fellow countryman Jerome Iaconi in the second round.

The young star fell short of the round of 32 yesterday afternoon after he was beaten convincingly by 24-year-old and 200-gamer Jesse Delaney, 3-6, 1-6 in the third round of qualifiers.

Cruz Hewitt falls short of his first pro tour main draw. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin.

Asked how he felt about getting his first win in the pros, Cruz lived up to his same with a relaxed reply.

“I’m feeling pretty good,” Hewitt said.

“I’m pretty stoked on getting that win because I had to come from behind.”

The teenager embodied the same drive and determination as his father, gritting his teeth and gutsing his way to a win in the heat and humidity of Darwin.

“I was fired up to be honest,” he said.

“All I wanted was to get the win and that’s what I did.

“It’s cool getting to go to different places like here (Darwin) and it’s a lot of fun, but I came here to test myself at this level against some older players and see how I go.

“I also get to miss school today because I won, so that’s even better.”

With his coach off in Sweden and his father with the Australian team at the Davis Cup in Europe, Hewitt said while it would’ve been cool for his dad to be there, he gave him a call after the win.

“He (Lleyton) is actually at the Davis Cup at the moment so he wasn’t able to come,” Hewitt said.

“But I spoke to him on the phone and he was pretty happy and stoked that I won.”

When asked the real question of whether he’s a backwards or front facing cap guy, it turns out he’s neither.

“No, I do put it (cap) backwards sometimes, but recently I’ve been wearing a headband.”

Cruz Hewitt warming up before his second round qualifier of the 2023 Darwin International Pro Tour, at the Darwin International Tennis Centre, Darwin. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Hewitt’s aunty and young cousin were supporting him courtside at the event in Darwin.

With a 33-16 record as a junior, Hewitt is on track to follow in the footsteps of his father who holds the record as the youngest player to qualify for the Australian Open.

The elder-Hewitt qualified for the 1997 Australian Open aged 15 years and 11 months, the youngest in the tournament’s history.