- Teenager has won through to semi-finals
- Qualified for the Launceston International
- Is the son of tennis great Lleyton Hewitt
Tennis young gun Cruz Hewitt has turned heads at the Launceston International, with the teenager enjoying the biggest win of his blossoming career.
The son of Aussie sporting legend Lleyton Hewitt beat world number 224 Yu Hsiou Hsu in straight sets to reach the semi-finals in Tasmania.
Hewitt, 16, qualified for the Australian Pro Tour event, and previously beat seven seed Dane Sweeny in the quarter-finals.
His next assignment is South Korean Sanhui Shin for a spot in the final.
And if he wins the tournament, Hewitt’s current world ranking of 1174 will climb considerably.
It comes after the rising star has been in the spotlight of late following his mixed performances at the Australian Open in January.
Tennis young gun Cruz Hewitt has turned heads at the Launceston International, with the teenager enjoying the biggest win of his blossoming career beating world number 224 Yu Hsiou Hsu
If he wins the tournament, Hewitt’s current world ranking of 1174 will climb considerably (pictured, with his father Lleyton)
He attempted to qualify for the main draw of the Grand Slam – 28 years after his dad’s debut at the tournament – but was knocked out in the first round of qualifying by Nikoloz Basilashvili in straight sets.
He would later progress to the second round of the boy’s junior singles tournament, beating MooBeen Kim before being outclassed by Jan Kumstat.
Not everyone in Aussie tennis circles seemingly wants Hewitt to succeed, with some branding his inclusion in the qualifying draw at the Australian Open an example of ‘nepotism’.
It came after Hewitt was granted a wildcard for the event at Melbourne Park.
At the time, Channel 9 commentator and doubles legend Todd Woodbridge rushed to the defence of the youngster, claiming he deserved to be at the tournament on merit, not because of his father’s immense standing in the sport.
‘Cruz is in these positions because he is a very good, talented young player and one of our best here in Australia,’ Woodbridge said during a live TV chat with Lleyton Hewitt.
‘He deserves every opportunity he has got to be there. Some people [online trolls] would like to say otherwise.
‘I know you [Lleyton] have to deal with that and you shouldn’t have to, so I am putting it out there — he deserves to be there.’
