Australian tennis legend Lleyton Hewitt has opened up on his “unique and special” return to the court to partner son Cruz in doubles – his first professional match since retiring in 2020. It comes after he paid an emotional tribute to wife Bec on Monday night after being inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame.
Lleyton teamed up with Cruz to play doubles in Sydney on Wednesday at the NSW Open – an ATP Challenger event. It will be Lleyton’s first professional match since he retired (for the second time) in January of 2020.
Lleyton Hewitt has come out of retirement to play doubles with son Cruz (R), and paid an emotional tribute to wife Bec (L) after a huge honour. Image: Getty
Cruz beat compatriot Omar Jasika in the first round of the singles comp on Tuesday, winning 3-6 7-6 6-4. Unfortunately he was eliminated on Wednesday in a 7-5 3-6 5-7 loss to Matsuoka Hayato of Japan. The 16-year-old was back in action not long after when he team up with father Lleyton in the first round of the doubles against Aussie duo Hayden Jones and Pavle Marinkov.
“It’s obviously something pretty unique and special,” the 44-year-old Lleyton told tennis.com.au. “It’s not too often (that the opportunity comes up) and there probably will be a time where I won’t be good enough or physically able to play with him. And now he’s obviously stepped up to the mark and is good enough to play, so it sort of just crosses over nicely.
“Sydney’s a pretty special place as well. Obviously Cruz was born there and we have a lot of family and friends in Sydney, but I won four Sydney International titles as well. I played the Olympics there in Sydney in 2000 when I’d just come on the tour, and I also won the Tennis Masters Cup in Sydney in 2001 to get to World No.1.”
Cruz Hewitt in action on the tennis court. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
Lleyton has been in Cruz’s corner as his son attempts to forge a successful tennis career of his own. The 16-year-old has played in the junior tournament at the last two Australian Opens, and was granted a wildcard into qualifying for the main draw in January. Unfortunately he lost in the first round and is yet to make his grand slam debut at senior level.
Lleyton Hewitt’s tribute to ‘rock’ Bec
Hewitt was one of seven inductees into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame at a gala event on Monday night, along with Torah Bright (snowboarding), Jason Dunstall (AFL), Laura Geitz (netball), Peter Harcourt (sports medicine), Mark Schwarzer (soccer) and Cameron Smith (rugby league). Hewitt was the last of the seven to speak on stage, and used his speech to thank Bec for being the “rock” of their family.
“To my beautiful supporting wife Bec,” he said. “It’s not easy being a partner of a tennis player. Tennis is a very individual sport.
“And you do have to be selfish at certain times to be able to perform on the big stage and do a lot of the things that are gonna give you the chance to have the best opportunity to perform. And Bec’s travelled the world with us and it’s a grind, and especially with three young kids, we’ve had to move base and set up overseas.
“And she’s done everything with grace and elegance and you’ve been the rock the whole time supporting me, and I certainly wouldn’t have been able to continue my career and be able to play 20 Australian Opens without you. So I’m eternally grateful and I love you so much. Thank you.”
Lleyton Hewitt with wife Bec, daughter Ava and his parents Glynn and Cherilyn at the 2025 Sport Australia Hall of Fame induction. (Photo by Morgan Hancock/Getty Images)
Lleyton Hewitt with son Cruz and wife Bec in 2024. (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images for Tennis Australia)
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Hewitt, who won two grand slams and made it to World No.1, also made mention of children Mia, Cruz and Ava. Youngest daughter Ava was the only one in attendance, with Mia and Cruz unable to join.
“My three kids, beautiful kids,” he said. “Only one’s here tonight, our youngest, Ava. But yeah, Mia, Cruz and Ava, it’s incredibly special.
“I was fortunate enough, one of the greatest moments, was actually having them come out onto Rod Laver Arena after I played my last singles match in the Australian Open in 2016, and them walking off the court with me. To see those photos of that moment is something incredibly special and I really just want to give them the best opportunity to chase their dreams into the future and instil that belief that they can do anything as well. So love you guys.”