Lleyton Hewitt’s Return to Tennis
Lleyton Hewitt, a former world No. 1 in tennis, made a surprising return to the sport after retiring, this time stepping onto the court alongside his 16-year-old son, Cruz. The pair participated in an ATP Challenger 75 tournament in Sydney, marking a heartwarming moment for both father and son in the world of competitive tennis.
Hewitt’s Career Highlights
Hewitt, who held the top ranking globally for a remarkable 80 weeks during his career, is a two-time Grand Slam singles champion and also claimed a doubles title at the 2000 US Open. Now 44 years old, he has transitioned from player to captain of Australia’s Davis Cup team, although recently faced a two-week suspension issued by the International Tennis Integrity Agency due to a controversy involving a doping official.
He concluded his singles career in 2016 with a loss to David Ferrer at the Australian Open, and although he played doubles until 2020, his formal retirement came in front of hometown fans at the same event, where he exited in the first round with partner Jordan Thompson.
Father-Son Partnership
After nearly six years away from serious competition, Hewitt seized the opportunity to team up with Cruz, who is eager to establish himself on the Challenger Tour. Cruz had previously won his opening match against Omar Jasika at the event but faced defeat in his second encounter against Hayato Matsuoka, both matches pushing him to the limit in three sets.
Thanks to a wild card entry from tournament organizers, the duo formed a father-son partnership for their doubles match at the NSW Open. They came up against fellow wild card entrants Pavle Marinkov and Hayden Jones, both 19 years old and inexperienced compared to the seasoned Hewitt.
Match Highlights
Anticipation surrounded Hewitt’s performance given his recent hiatus, but the match delivered an unexpected thrill for the audience. Starting the match, Cruz served first, winning his game, followed by the opponents who mirrored this. What transpired next was astonishing as the Hewitt team dominated by winning 11 consecutive games, overwhelming their opponents with a stunning 6-1, 6-0 victory in just 46 minutes.
This unexpected result not only provided a cherished moment for the Hewitts but also propelled them into the quarter-finals of the tournament, where they will face another Australian team comprised of Calum Puttergill and Dane Sweeny. The day proved to be a memorable highlight for both Lleyton and Cruz as they shared the excitement of a professional match together.
