Former world No. 1 in tennis, Lleyton Hewitt, marked a remarkable comeback to the sport after an almost six-year retirement by teaming up with his 16-year-old son, Cruz, for an impressive win. The father-son duo dominated their opponents, Hayden Jones and Pavle Marinkov, with a swift 6-1, 6-0 victory in just under an hour.
Given a wildcard entry into the main draw of the NSW Open, a Challenger event held in Sydney, the pair seized the opportunity with Hewitt donning his signature backward cap. They successfully defended all four break points they encountered, swiftly advancing to the quarter-finals.
Hewitt, a two-time Grand Slam champion, had last competed in singles in 2016 but only retired from doubles at the 2020 Australian Open. Despite the long break, the 44-year-old displayed no signs of rustiness during the match, showcasing his comfort on the Ken Rosewall Arena and securing the win with a decisive net winner.
Post-retirement, Hewitt has stayed connected to tennis as the captain of Australia’s Davis Cup team and is actively supporting his son, Cruz, as he forges his own career in the sport. Cruz, a rising talent, has participated in junior Grand Slam tournaments and is making strides in the Challenger circuit.
Recently, Cruz faced some challenges on the court, including a loss in the men’s Australian Open qualifying round. However, he has shown progress at the Challenger level, notably securing his first victory in Brisbane against James McCabe before bowing out to Wu Tung-lin in a competitive match.
With a current ranking of 759 in the world, Cruz achieved another win in Brisbane before exiting in the second round. His journey continues as he gears up to compete alongside his father in the doubles category, aiming to advance to the quarter-finals against the Australian duo of Calum Puttergill and Dane Sweeny.
In other news, Sky has announced a reduction in the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle for the upcoming 2025/26 season, offering substantial savings to members and providing access to over 1,400 live matches across various leagues, including the Premier League and EFL. Sky is set to broadcast a minimum of 215 live Premier League games next season, a significant increase from previous seasons.