Bec and Lleyton Hewitt's son on track for Aussie Open
Bec and Lleyton Hewitt's little boy is growing up fast! Just a few months past his 15th birthday, Cruz Hewitt continued to demonstrate that he's well on his way to following in his famous father's illustrious footsteps.
In mid September, Cruz secured his inaugural professional win at the Darwin Tennis International, even though he was up against much older and more experienced competitors.
That important first pro win came on a Sunday in the first round of qualifiers at the Darwin Tennis International, a 3-6, 4-6, 10-5 thriller over 25-year-old Brian Tran. Cruz then followed that up with another impressive win, 6-3, 6(4)-7, 10-3 over 21-year-old Jerome Iaconi in the second round, before suffering a 3-6, 1-6 loss against 24-year-old Jesse Delaney in the third round of qualifiers.
Cruz was elated to share that his famous dad was overjoyed with his victory when he spoke to reporters, emphasising the significance of his win.
Behind the scenes, Cruz's mother, TV star Bec Hewitt, now aged 40, is more determined than ever to ensure that her family avoids the pitfalls of history repeating itself – as when Lleyton himself went through the trials of becoming an elite-level tennis player.
An insider exclusively shared with Woman's Day, "There was always this underlying feeling that Lleyton's parents, Glynn and Cherilyn, really pushed their boy to get the best out of himself, and it was rumoured at the time that it was their way or the highway when it came to his tennis."
As a result, Bec has spent years advocating for her more balanced parenting approach, steering Lleyton towards her gentler perspective on raising their children (Cruz has a big sister, Mia, who was born in November 2005, and a little sister, Ava, born in October 2010). Now Cruz is shaping up to be a more well-rounded individual compared to his highly-pressured dad, thanks to Bec's belief that life should not solely revolve around tennis.
Bec serves as a calming influence on Cruz, just as she does with their daughters Mia and Ava. Her aspiration for her son is to have him look up to players like Roger Federer, who epitomise true champions both on and off the court. What matters most to Bec is ensuring that Cruz's mental health is as robust as his tennis skills, and she is determined not to push him too hard in pursuit of success.
The talented young athlete has inherited more than just his 42-year-old father's formidable two-handed backhand. When asked about his most recent victory, Cruz confidently remarked to local media: "I'm pretty stoked about getting that win because I had to come from behind. I was fired up, to be honest… It's cool getting to go to different places like here in Darwin, and it's a lot of fun. But I came here to test myself at this level against some older players and see how I fare."
He playfully added, "I also get to miss school today because I won, so that's even better!"
With the entire tennis world closely observing Cruz's every move, the question now arises: Can he break one of his father's longest-standing records? An insider shared, "Lleyton, who these days balances family life with coaching and commentary commitments, first qualified for the 1997 Australian Open at the tender age of 15 years and 11 months, becoming the youngest in the tournament's history.
"He went on to win the 2001 US Open and the 2002 Wimbledon. There's no reason Cruz, who exudes more confidence than most kids his age on the circuit, can't achieve the same over the next few months."
The insider shared, "When Cruz was seven, Lleyton expressed hope that his son would make the main draw at 14. While Bec knows he was simply dreaming big for his son, she wants to shield her boy from excessive pressure and offer unwavering support, win or lose."
Images: Instagram