The sun had barely risen over Melbourne Park when a familiar surname drew a familiar buzz through the crowd at the Australian Open. Hewitt. For many Australians, it still carries the echo of fist pumps, backward caps, and a never-say-die attitude that defined an era. On Tuesday afternoon, that name once again appeared on the scoreboard, but this time it belonged not to Lleyton, the two-time Grand Slam champion, but to his 17-year-old son, Cruz Hewitt, standing alone on the baseline with the weight of legacy resting on his shoulders. But…

By the end of 76 minutes, that dream: the chance to begin his Australian Open story had slipped away. Cruz stepped onto a packed ANZ Arena with two instantly recognizable figures quietly taking their seats in the stands: Lleyton and Bec Hewitt, his parents, faces equal parts hopeful and anxious. From the first ball, signs suggested this wouldn’t be a smooth outing. America’s Michael Zheng, ranked 174th in the world, sealed the first comfortably, 6-3.

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The second set began with more trouble for Cruz – an early break, handing Zheng a 2-0 lead. The second set also ended with a similar scoreline. Zheng wrapped up the qualifier comfortably by a 6-3, 6-3 margin. In total, Cruz finished with 37 unforced errors with 6 double faults.

It was the second year in succession that Hewitt had been knocked out in the first round of the Australian Open qualifiers. His hope to follow in the footsteps of his dad and qualify for the main card draw of the AO as a teenager was yet again shattered!

After the match, Michael Zheng spoke with gratitude and admiration for the atmosphere – even if many in the crowd were rooting for the young Aussie hope (in fact, it was a packed house at Melbourne Park).

“There’s not much more I could ask for – I’m super excited. This is what you work for in these full stadiums. I still had a lot of fans cheering for me, but even if the fans were cheering against me, it’s still an unbelievable experience. He (Hewitt) returned really well on the games that he broke me. He was doing a good job attacking my second serve … but I just kept calm and tried to take it one point at a time.”

For comparison, the story of Lleyton Hewitt’s rise has become Australian tennis folklore. At 15, the elder Hewitt stormed through Australian Open qualifying as a wildcard in 1997, launching a career that would include 20 straight main draw appearances and eventually the world number one ranking. Those are enormous shoes – perhaps impossible shoes – for any young player to fill.

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What does Cruz Hewitt think about the comparison with his dad, who is also an Australian Open finalist?

For most young tennis players, the pressure comes from ranking points, expectations, or a tough draw. But for Cruz Hewitt, pressure arrives wearing the surname that once electrified stadiums across the world. Being the son of Lleyton Hewitt comes with a level of comparison that most teenagers could never imagine. Lleyton turned pro in 1998, and he retired from singles in 2016. Throughout this time phase, he not only won two major titles and reached the world number one spot but also finished his career with a total of 30 titles. He reached the final of the Australian Open in 2005 and the QFs of the French Open twice (2001, 2004).

Speaking at the 2024 Newcombe Medal, Cruz addressed the comparison that time and again makes the headlines. Instead of resisting them or getting overwhelmed, he delivered a response full of quiet confidence. “It is what it is, but I don’t really mind. It just drives me to be better.” Speaking at the same event, Lleyton Hewitt acknowledged that comparisons were almost unavoidable from the moment Cruz first swung a tennis racket. His message at that time was: “He’s just got to enjoy it as much as possible and make it fun. He’s been doing great so far.”

Now, after Cruz Hewitt’s recent setback at the 2026 Australian Open, his father was yet again quick to put things into perspective. He urged his son, Cruz, not to get “caught up in comparisons” as the teenager aims to make his own mark on the tennis court.

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Last year, Lleyton and Cruz combined to win a doubles match at the NSW Open. How was his experience of playing alongside his son?

“It was really special. Any time I get to step back on court with Cruz is something I don’t take for granted. I’ve had a long career in the game, but sharing the court with your own kid, seeing their passion, their competitiveness, and their love for the sport is a totally different feeling. We had a lot of fun out there, and it’s a memory I’ll hang onto.”

His only advice to his son was to enjoy the grind, stay focused mentally, and understand that improvement comes from consistency. “If he stays humble, stays hungry, and focuses on what he can control, he’ll give himself every opportunity.”

For Cruz, the comparisons will always be there. They are unavoidable. But he’s learning to view them as motivation, not pressure. He respects the legacy, embraces the challenge, and understands the unique opportunity that comes with being a Hewitt. Do you think this young Aussie has all the abilities to win the Australian Open in the near future?

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