Former world No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt marked a successful comeback to the world of tennis after an absence of almost six years by teaming up with his 16-year-old son, Cruz, for an impressive win. The father-son pair dominated their match against Hayden Jones and Pavle Marinkov, triumphing 6-1, 6-0 in a swift 48 minutes.
Securing a wildcard entry into the main draw of the NSW Open, a Challenger event held in Sydney, the duo seized the opportunity with finesse. Hewitt, recognizable by his trademark backward cap, and his son displayed strong resilience, saving all four break points they encountered, advancing to the quarter-finals in remarkable speed.
A two-time Grand Slam champion, Hewitt played his final singles match in 2016 but only officially retired from doubles at the 2020 Australian Open. Nevertheless, in the recent match on Wednesday, the 44-year-old exhibited impeccable form on the Ken Rosewall Arena, sealing the victory with a decisive net winner.
Following his retirement from professional play, Hewitt continued his involvement in tennis as the captain of Australia’s Davis Cup team while actively supporting his son, Cruz, as the young talent forges his own path in the sport. Cruz, who has participated in junior Grand Slam tournaments, is now establishing himself in the Challenger circuit.
Despite encountering setbacks such as a first-round defeat in this year’s men’s Australian Open qualifying, Cruz has shown progress at the Challenger level in recent weeks. Noteworthy achievements include his first Challenger-level win in Brisbane against world No. 192 James McCabe before eventually falling to Wu Tung-lin in a closely contested three-set match.
Currently holding a career-high ranking of No. 759, Cruz clinched another victory in the singles draw in Brisbane before exiting in the second round. Subsequently, he paired up with his father in the doubles event, advancing to the quarter-finals. The duo is scheduled to face fellow Australian pair Calum Puttergill and Dane Sweeny in their upcoming match.
In other news, Sky has announced a reduced price for its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, offering substantial savings and access to over 1,400 live matches covering the Premier League, EFL, and more. Sky’s lineup includes a promise of at least 215 live Premier League games for the upcoming season, showcasing an increase of up to 100 additional matches.
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