A second-set comeback paved the way for Cruz Hewitt to claim his second-ever ATP main draw win and book his spot in the round of 32 at the Winston-Salem Open.
Hewitt struggled in the first set, but turned things around in a tight second before claiming victory 1-6, 7-6(4), 6-4 over America’s Sebastian Gorzny in North Carolina on Tuesday.
Cruz Hewitt celebrates his second-ever ATP main draw victory. X/@WSOpen
Gorzny, who holds a lowly career-high ranking of world No.782, needed just 27 minutes to dismiss his 17-year-old rival in the first set.
But the 22-year-old could not replicate his dominance in the second as Hewitt showed the grit his father Lleyton was famous for to force a tiebreak, which he won 7-4.
Hewitt’s powerful service game worked in his favour and caused havoc for Gorzny, who was worn down by a series of lengthy rallies as the match went the distance.
With the support of his legendary father, who was cheering him on in the stands, Hewitt eventually pushed through and secured his spot in the round of 32.
Prior to this tournament, Hewitt had only once featured in the main draw at an ATP event once – and he was dismissed by Alex de Minaur in straight sets.
Hewitt’s next challenge will be British star Arthur Fery, who is in the midst of a career year after a surprise semi-final appearance at Wimbledon, where he fell to Alexander Zverev.
While he will enter that match as a rank underdog, Hewitt will collect a tidy $17,000 pay cheque for his time at the tournament.
Hewitt was not the only Australian who took to the court on Tuesday, with Adam Walton and James Duckworth cruising to a straight set victories.
Walton, who defeated Jesper de Jong, 6-2, 6-4, will take on third seed Ignacio Buse in the round of 32. Duckworth will face Argentina’s Mariano Navone.
The Winston-Salem Open is the final ATP tournament before the US Open. Many of the world’s top-ranked stars are not competing in the event, as they rest up for the year’s final major.
All three Aussies will play on Wednesday morning AEST.