Cruz Hewitt, the 16-year-old son of Australian tennis legend Lleyton Hewitt, was left writhing in pain on the court after a disturbing incident during his Challenger Tour match against Matt Hulme in Brisbane. Cruz, who had managed to advance to the second round of the Brisbane QTC #2 tournament, faced off against Hulme after a first-round victory. In a hard-fought match, Cruz ultimately fell to Hulme with a scoreline of 6-4, 4-6, 0-6, despite initially battling back in the second set.
The incident that caused Cruz to collapse in pain occurred when he attempted to return a difficult shot from Hulme. As he stretched to make the return, Cruz appeared to lose his footing, landing awkwardly on his left wrist. He immediately fell to the ground, clutching his wrist in agony. The young Australian was visibly in pain but continued playing after a brief pause to check on his condition.
Despite the injury, Cruz managed to complete the match, although his discomfort was evident. He was later seen sitting on the bench, his face expressing frustration and exhaustion, with his head resting in his hands. His performance in the match, though, demonstrated resilience—he hit six aces and saved five break points, showing his potential even in the face of adversity.
This loss meant that Cruz Hewitt would have to wait for his chance to debut in the main draw of a Challenger Tour event. It was also a setback following his appearance in the Australian Open qualifiers, where he was eliminated by Nikoloz Basilashvili in the first round. However, Cruz had shown promise in Melbourne, where he progressed to the second round in the men’s singles before being defeated by Jan Kumstat.
Cruz’s progress in the tennis world has garnered considerable attention, not only because of his family background but also due to his talent. He was criticized by some who claimed that his participation in the Australian Open qualifiers was a result of “nepotism,” given his famous father. However, many, including commentator Todd Woodbridge, defended Cruz, asserting that he earned his spot based on his abilities, not his family name.
While Cruz’s injury setback is unfortunate, his continued presence on the tennis circuit and his potential to succeed remain clear. As he navigates the challenges of professional tennis, Cruz has already shown he possesses the skill, determination, and mindset to eventually break through at the highest levels of the sport.
