Australian Open: Cruz Hewitt suffers straight sets defeat in first-round qualifier

A big crowd ventured to Melbourne Park early to catch one of Australia’s most hyped young talents in his qualifying debut.

Cruz Hewitt’s first foray into senior grand slam tennis ended with a swift reality check, but glimpses of his exciting potential were on display for a packed-out crowd at Melbourne Park.

The son of former teen prodigy Lleyton Hewitt was unsuccessful in his bid to become the youngest player to qualify for the Australian Open men’s singles main draw since his father in 1997 after he was convincingly beaten by Georgian veteran Nikoloz Basilashvili 6-1, 6-4.

But the 16-year-old excited fans in his first-round qualifying defeat on Tuesday and brought out his dad’s trademark “c’mon” fist-pump celebration early in the match after saving consecutive break points on his serve.

Cruz Hewitt celebrates to his family and supporters after winning a point during his straight sets defeat to Georgia’s Nikoloz Basilashvili on Monday. Picture: Michael Klein

Lleyton and Bec Hewitt were among the family and friends in Cruz’s box for his Australian Open men’s singles qualifying debut at Melbourne Park. Picture: Michael Klein

“The ‘c’mon’ is there, but the hat is the wrong way round. There’s a similarity and a difference,” commentator John Fitzgerald remarked as he was supported in the crowd by parents Lleyton and Bec Hewitt and current Australian star Alex de Minaur.

Basilashvili, the 32-year-old former world No.16, had more power than the teenager and was imposing when he came to the net, but Hewitt dug in after staring down the barrel of a humiliating loss at 5-0 down in the first set.

The teenager’s first serve went at only 36 per cent in his first two service games, but he got into gear with an impressive hold to get on the scoreboard before a heavily improved second set.

Hewitt’s double-handed backhand was his strongest shot in the 6-1, 6-4 loss to Basilashvili, the former world No.16. Picture: Michael Klein

The Hewitt fist pump came out again when he broke back against the Georgian to force the second set to 2-2, with many of the roughly 1500 people packed into court 3 rising to their feet in approval.

The teenager continued to fight back, saving three break points to hold serve again to bring his opponent’s lead back to 4-3 in the second set.

It was followed by another hold when he thumped a crosscourt backhand winner to stay in the contest, but Basilashvili answered on his serve to advance to the second round of qualifying.

A crowd of reporters swelled outside court 3 to talk to Hewitt after his Melbourne Park senior debut, but Tennis Australia said he had “politely declined” all interview requests and sent them on their way.

The teenager has rarely spoken publicly, but said at last month’s Newcombe Medal night he was unfazed by claims of nepotism and favouritism from pockets of Australian tennis.

“It is what it is, but I don’t really mind,” he said.

“It just drives me to be better.”

The decision to grant Hewitt a wildcard into qualifying had drawn criticism from some commentators who said he had not put together enough of a body of work to warrant the reward, but the large and lively crowd appeared to vindicate Tennis Australia’s call.