Former world No. 1 tennis player Lleyton Hewitt marked his comeback to the sport after an almost six-year hiatus by teaming up with his 16-year-old son, Cruz, for an impressive win. Competing against Hayden Jones and Pavle Marinkov, the father-son duo dominated the match, triumphing with a score of 6-1, 6-0 in just under an hour.
Securing a wildcard entry into the main draw of the NSW Open, a Challenger tournament in Sydney, Hewitt and his son showcased their prowess on the court. Sporting his signature backward cap, Hewitt, a two-time Grand Slam champion, along with Cruz, fended off all four break points they encountered, swiftly advancing to the quarter-finals.
Although Hewitt retired from singles competition in 2016 and from doubles play officially at the 2020 Australian Open, his performance at the recent match demonstrated no signs of rustiness. The 44-year-old appeared comfortable on the Ken Rosewall Arena, sealing the victory with a decisive net winner.
Following his retirement, Hewitt has remained active in tennis as the captain of Australia’s Davis Cup team, actively supporting his son, Cruz, who is establishing himself in the sport. Cruz, a rising talent who has participated in junior Grand Slam events, is making strides in the Challenger circuit.
Despite some setbacks, including a recent first-round defeat in the men’s Australian Open qualifying, Cruz is progressing well at the Challenger level. Notably, he achieved his first Challenger-level victory in Brisbane by defeating world No. 192 James McCabe before bowing out to Wu Tung-lin in a tough three-set match.
With a current career-high ranking of No. 759, Cruz clinched another singles win in Brisbane before exiting in the second round. He then joined forces with his father in the doubles event, advancing to the quarter-finals. The duo is scheduled to face Calum Puttergill and Dane Sweeny, another Australian pair, in their upcoming match.
Sky has recently announced a reduction in the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle for the 2025/26 season, offering members savings of £192. The package includes access to over 1,400 live matches across various leagues, including the Premier League and EFL. Sky will broadcast a minimum of 215 live Premier League games next season, an increase of up to 100 matches compared to previous seasons.