Cruz Hewitt on track for Australian Open juniors after strong year

Lleyton Hewitt says his son Cruz’s development is “pretty exciting” as the 15-year-old prepares for another crack at the Australian Open junior championship in January.

The two-time grand slam winner said the younger Hewitt had grown to be “easily taller than me” as he approached another home campaign ranked No.113 in the junior world rankings.

Cruz won two consecutive junior ITF titles in August and also claimed his first senior victory later that month when he beat a Dutch player seven years his senior, Thijmen Loof, at an ITF event in Bali.

Lleyton expected Cruz to return to the junior singles draw in January after he received a main draw wildcard in 2024 but was beaten in the first round.

“Most likely he’ll be playing in the juniors, which is pretty awesome for him again,” Lleyton said on Thursday.

“He got the experience of being there earlier this year and then (gets) to come back.

“And I think it’s every kid’s dream to play in a grand slam, but we’re very fortunate being in this country that we get it in our backyard as well. He’s obviously seen a lot of these players before him that have played, so it’s pretty exciting.”

Lleyton was bemused at how unfazed his son was when it came to the heightened attention he was receiving through his junior career.

“I don’t think he focuses on it too much – he’s like most kids these days, they just go about their thing,” Lleyton said.

“One thing – he’s never been shy of playing on big courts or in front of people, so he sort of takes it in his stride.

“It’s his journey, and it’s a very long journey, and he’s only just got his first ATP point, which is fantastic to start somewhere – but it does feel like a bloody long journey.”

Cruz, who will turn 16 in December, could play in Bendigo at the December Showdown after the under-16 and under-18 components of the junior showcase were relocated from Melbourne Park for this year.

The under-12 and under-14 events will be held in Sydney.

Cruz was also the “orange boy” for Australia’s Davis Cup round-robin campaign in Valencia last month in the team captained by his father.