Cruz Hewitt, 17, earns first ATP Tour win at Washington Open where father Lleyton won the 2004 title

The match

Cruz Hewitt, the 17-year-old son of former world number one Lleyton Hewitt, won his first ATP Tour-level match on Tuesday at the Washington Open. The Australian qualifier, ranked 612th in the world, beat American Marcos Giron (ranked 85th) 6-3, 6-4 in 74 minutes in his main-draw debut. Hewitt did not face a single break point during the match, relying on a strong serve. He had already come through qualifying to reach the main draw of the ATP 500 tournament.

“It's a pretty special moment. Seeing my dad play this tournament and to get my first tour win, it feels really cool.”

A father's shadow and a father's advice

Lleyton Hewitt won the Washington title in 2004, one of his 30 career ATP titles, which also include the 2001 US Open and 2002 Wimbledon. Cruz was born four years after that Washington victory. The teenager said seeing his father's name on the ring of champions at centre court during his qualifying matches was inspirational. His father's advice before the match was straightforward.

“It was my first tour main draw match, so (he told me) just to enjoy it and take every point one-by-one, really enjoy the atmosphere and the crowd.”

Cruz also copied his father's signature celebration after the win, a right-arm bicep curl. "He just always did it and when I was little I've just always seen it," Cruz said. "It's cool to be able to do that now because obviously my dad has been a huge part of where I am today."

A breakout summer

Tuesday's win caps a strong month for the Australian teenager. He reached the boys' singles final at Wimbledon earlier in July, losing to American Jordan Lee, nearly a quarter of a century after his father won the men's title at the All England Club in 2002. Cruz is the fourth man born in 2008 or later to earn a tour-level victory, following Diego Dedura, Thijs Boogaard and Moise Kouame. He is also the second son of a former world number one to win a professional match, after Sweden's Leo Borg (son of Björn Borg) achieved the feat in Bastad in 2023.

What comes next

In the second round, Cruz Hewitt will face either top-seeded defending champion Alex de Minaur of Australia or Greek wildcard Stefanos Tsitsipas. A meeting with de Minaur would carry extra weight: Lleyton Hewitt has served as de Minaur's mentor, and Cruz described him as being "like my older brother."

“Obviously if I play Alex, that would be a dream to share the court with him. He's like my older brother. I've known him basically my whole life. He's stayed with us and we have Christmas together, also.”

Other results

Elsewhere in the first round, France's Adrian Mannarino eliminated American fifth seed Learner Tien 7-5, 6-4. American Alex Michelsen beat compatriot Mackenzie McDonald 6-4, 7-5. Spanish 19-year-old Rafael Jodar upset French eighth seed Arthur Fils 7-6 (7/5), 6-3.