Lleyton Hewitt, the former world No. 1 in tennis, marked a successful comeback to the sport after a hiatus of nearly six years by teaming up with his 16-year-old son, Cruz, for an impressive win. The father-son duo delivered a dominant performance against Hayden Jones and Pavle Marinkov, triumphing 6-1, 6-0 in just under an hour.
Securing a wildcard entry into the main draw of the NSW Open, a Challenger event in Sydney, Hewitt and his son made the most of the opportunity. Wearing his signature backward cap, Hewitt and Cruz showcased their skills by saving all four break points they encountered, swiftly advancing to the quarter-finals.
Although Hewitt, a two-time Grand Slam champion, played his last singles match in 2016 and only retired from doubles in 2020, there was no hint of any decline in his form during the recent match. The 44-year-old appeared comfortable on the Ken Rosewall Arena, sealing the victory with a winning shot at the net.
Since stepping away from professional play, Hewitt has continued his involvement in tennis as the captain of Australia’s Davis Cup team, actively supporting his son, Cruz, who is building his own career in the sport. Cruz, who has competed in junior Grand Slam tournaments and is making strides in the Challenger circuit, recently clashed with his father during the Wimbledon boys’ singles event.
Despite facing setbacks such as a first-round exit in this year’s men’s Australian Open qualifying, Cruz has been showing progress at the Challenger level. Notably, he clinched his first Challenger-level victory in Brisbane by defeating world No. 192 James McCabe before bowing out to Wu Tung-lin in a competitive match.
Currently ranked at a career-high of No. 759, Cruz Hewitt continues to make his mark by overcoming challenges and securing wins at the Challenger level. Alongside his father, the Hewitt duo is poised to compete against another Australian pair, Calum Puttergill and Dane Sweeny, in their upcoming match.
Additionally, Sky has announced a reduction in the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle for the 2025/26 season, offering significant savings and a wide range of live matches across various leagues, including the Premier League and EFL.
Sky is set to broadcast a minimum of 215 live Premier League games in the upcoming season, a notable increase from previous seasons, providing fans with more exciting football action to enjoy.