Alex de Minaur had no trouble on the scoreboard, dispatching Cruz Hewitt 6-2, 6-3 in the second round of the Mubadala Citi DC Open in Washington. But the emotional complexity of the encounter lingered long after the final point was played.
De Minaur and the Hewitt family share a bond that stretches back more than a decade. Cruz is the son of Grand Slam champion and Australian Davis Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt, a figure who has been instrumental in shaping de Minaur's career. The two Australians grew up together in the same tennis environment, which made the draw placement particularly awkward for everyone involved.
Speaking in his post-match press conference, de Minaur described a brief but meaningful exchange with both Hewitts in the gym shortly after the match. He admitted none of them quite knew how to handle the situation, calling it a first for all three. He noted that a contest between them felt inevitable at some point, just not this soon in the week.
De Minaur was warm in his praise of Lleyton's support throughout his career and expressed genuine confidence in Cruz's future on tour. The teenager had already claimed his first ATP-level victory earlier in the tournament before running into the top seed.
Pat Rafter also weighed in, telling nine.com.au that he was genuinely excited when Cruz secured that maiden win. Rafter acknowledged the unique pressure that comes with being Lleyton Hewitt's son and predicted Cruz could receive a wildcard into the Australian Open next year, describing him as a passionate kid with plenty of growing still to do.
De Minaur now faces Brandon Nakashima in the quarterfinals, and TennisDraw users who backed him to go deep in Washington will be watching that one closely.
