Lleyton Hewitt just pulled off something pretty amazing. The former world No. 1 came out of retirement to team up with his 16-year-old son Cruz at an ATP Challenger event in Sydney.
And they absolutely destroyed their opponents.
The father-son duo won 6-1, 6-0 in just 46 minutes. That’s not just winning – that’s dominating.
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Let’s back up a bit. Hewitt isn’t just any tennis dad cheering from the sidelines. This guy spent 80 weeks as the world’s top-ranked player and won two Grand Slam singles titles. He also snagged a doubles major at the 2000 US Open.
These days, the 44-year-old serves as Australia’s Davis Cup team captain. Though he recently got suspended for two weeks by the International Tennis Integrity Agency following some drama with a doping official.
A Tennis Legend Returns
Hewitt officially hung up his racket in 2016 after losing to David Ferrer at the Australian Open. He kept playing doubles until 2020, but that was pretty much it.
Or so we thought.
Almost six years later, here he was stepping back onto the court at the ATP Challenger 75 tournament in Sydney. This time, he had the best doubles partner he could ask for – his son Cruz.
The 16-year-old is trying to make his own mark on the Challenger Tour. He actually won his first singles match at this same event, beating Omar Jasika before falling to Hayato Matsuoka in a long three-setter.
The Perfect Setup
Thanks to a wild card from tournament organizers, the Hewitts got their shot in the doubles draw at the NSW Open. They drew fellow wild cards Pavle Marinkov and Hayden Jones.
Here’s the thing about their opponents – they’re both 19 years old. Even combined, these guys couldn’t match Lleyton’s experience on court.
Still, the big question was obvious: what kind of shape was a 44-year-old retired tennis player actually in?
What Happened Next Was Shocking
Cruz started things off by holding his serve. Marinkov and Jones did the same right after. Pretty standard doubles tennis so far.
Then something wild happened.
The Hewitts won the next 11 games straight. Eleven in a row. They completely steamrolled their opponents, turning what should’ve been a competitive match into a clinic.
The crowd probably couldn’t believe what they were watching. Here was a guy who hadn’t played professionally in years, moving around the court like he’d never left.
More Than Just a Win
Sure, it helped that their opponents were wild cards too. And yeah, Lleyton’s decades of experience at the highest level probably didn’t hurt either.
But watching a tennis legend team up with his teenage son? That’s the kind of moment that makes sports special.
They’ve earned their spot in the quarter-finals now. Next up: Australian duo Calum Puttergill and Dane Sweeny.
That match should be a real test of whether this father-son magic can continue. One thing’s for sure – Cruz is getting the tennis education of a lifetime out there.
And for Lleyton? Well, it looks like he’s still got it.
