- The budding tennis star competed in Canberra
- The 16-year-old is already impressing tennis fans
Cruz Hewitt, son of Australian tennis great Lleyton, may have lost his qualifying match over the weekend, but he surprised tennis fans by posting a photo highlighting his incredible growth.
Hewitt had a tough start to the summer of tennis, being eliminated in the first round of qualifying at the Canberra International Challenger event despite fighting hard to stay in the match.
The 16-year-old son of Australian great Lleyton Hewitt suffered a 7-6 (11-9) 6-1 defeat to American Brandon Holt on Sunday.
However, fans were stunned by the speed at which the young man shot up in height, which was shown with a couple of photos posted on Instagram.
In one shot, taken at the 2021 Australian Open with world No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz, Hewitt only reaches up to the superstar’s shoulder.
Three and a half years later, in the second photo with Alcaraz, Hewitt is taller than the Spaniard, 183 cm.
Cruz Hewitt (pictured with Carlos Alcaraz) has wowed fans with his impressive growth spurt.
Hewitt (pictured with the Spaniard in 2001) has soared in 3.5 years
“How is it possible that only 3.5 years have passed between these photos of Lleyton Hewitt and Alcaraz’s son?” tennis influencer Bastien Fachan posted on X.
“How is brother taller than him?” posted another.
‘You have it because Cruzza is tall,’ commented a third.
Hewitt’s opponent over the weekend, Holt, also has a famous tennis pedigree, as her mother is former women’s world number one, Tracy Austin.
Holt showed real determination to fight back from 5-2 down in the first set before saving two set points to snatch the shaky tiebreaker.
Hewitt was unable to recover but certainly impressed fans with his talent and tenacity.
‘Seeing a little Cruz Hewitt. “I’m impressed,” published tennis journalist José Morgado.
Tennis writer Jake Davies posted: ‘Cruz Hewitt, the son of former world No.1 Lleyton, falls in the Canberra qualifiers 6-7 1-6 to Brandon Holt. Cruz had three set points in the tiebreaker and was left winded after missed opportunities. Anyway, he played a very promising first set and has some similar qualities to his father.
Hewitt (pictured at Melbourne Park earlier this year) was eliminated in the first round of qualifying at the Canberra International Challenger event.
The youngster (pictured with his famous parents) will now turn his attention to trying to qualify for the Australian Open.
Hewitt will now turn his attention to trying to qualify for the Australian Open which starts on January 12.
Twenty-eight years after his father successfully qualified as a 15-year-old, Hewitt received a wild card into the Melbourne Park playoffs.
Hewitt, who already dominates his father and possesses impressive serving power, will also compete in the Australian Open men’s singles tournament after falling in the first round this year.
The teenager is currently world junior number 107, but reached number 99 in October and was nominated for the Australian junior male of the year award at this month’s Newcombe Medal ceremony.
Meanwhile, Holt will play Canadian Alexis Galarneau for a place in the main draw in Canberra.