- The son of Australian tennis legend Lleyton Hewitt played in men's singles
- He achieved a very important achievement in his young career.
- He channeled his famous father, even using the same racket.
Court three at Melbourne Park was transformed into a time machine at the Australian Open, turning back the clock 20 years as Lleyton Hewitt's son achieved a major milestone in the infancy of his own tennis career.
Hewitt Sr. was the Melbourne Park favorite in 2005, falling agonizingly short of becoming the first Australian to win the Grand Slam on home soil since Mark Edmondson in 1976.
Unfortunately, he fell to eventual winner Marat Safin in the final before the dominant era of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray began.
Now the crowd has a new Hewitt to root for, with Lleyton's son and actor Bec Hewitt filming. his first victory at the Australian Open at Melbourne Park on Saturday, with his proud parents on court supporting him.
Cruz's performance has drawn comparisons to his father's illustrious career.
Lleyton, the youngest ATP World No. 1 at age 20, is remembered for his grit and 30 career titles, including two Grand Slam victories.
Cruz Hewitt achieved his first victory at the Australian Open in a great milestone for his budding tennis career.
Cruz channeled his famous father in more ways than one, wearing the same outfit Lleyton made famous in his golden 2005 season.
Watching his son show similar fight and passion was a proud moment for the tennis icon.
Cruz defeated South Korean qualifier MooBeen Kim, securing his first Australian Open victory as Lleyton, Bec and his grandmother Cherilyn Hewitt cheered him on.
His first victory in junior men's singles showed his potential to follow in his father's legendary footsteps.
While his run ended against the No. 1 seed on Monday night, the teenager showed he belongs at this level, winning over the crowd in the process.
Facing Czech player Jan Kumstat, last year's runner-up, Cruz fought hard in front of an enthusiastic crowd.
Dressed in his signature all-yellow suit, with his signature Hewitt Yonex racquet and a white backwards cap, a nod to his father's style, Cruz hit two forehand winners in the tiebreak, thrilling the packed house.
His roar of 'Let's go!' was received with loud applause, reminiscent of Lleyton's finest hour.
Cruz saved a match point with a wide serve and even won a set point, but Kumstat's powerful serves, including 12 aces, proved too strong.
Cruz was honorable in the second round loss, pushing the No. 1 spot all the way.
Lleyton was the proudest father watching his son achieve the milestone from the stands.
Mother Bec Hewitt was also at the matches to see her son make his triumphant start.
Despite the 6-3, 7-6 (9-7) loss, Cruz's tenacity and resilience on the backline, again reminiscent of his father, left a lasting impression.
It comes after internet trolls criticized Cruz's wildcard entry into the senior qualifiers ahead of the Australian Open.
Lleyton defended his son, addressing the trolls and stating that Cruz's opportunities were earned through hard work.
“It's a long journey,” Lleyton said on Channel Nine.
Cruz, currently ranked 107th in the world juniors and 1264th in the ATP rankings, continues to gain experience and fans.
Last week, Cruz was also seen batting with stars such as Jannik Sinner, Nick Kyrgios, Carlos Alcaraz and Alex de Minaur, further underlining his potential.