Cruz Hewitt has roared into the Wimbledon boys’ final — nearly a quarter-of-a-century since his father Lleyton won the senior title.
Davis Cup captain Lleyton was at courtside to cajole and cheer on his 17-year-old son, who earned one of the most impressive victories of his fledgling career in the boys’ tournament.
Taking on Dutch prospect, 11th seed Thijs Boogaard, who’d stretched former world No.1 Daniil Medvedev to a final-set tiebreaker at a grass-court event in Rosmalen only last month, Hewitt won 6-4, 6-4 on famous Court 18 where Wimbledon’s longest match between John Isner and Nicolas Mahut was once played.
Hewitt becomes the first Australian to reach the boys’ final since Alex de Minaur, now the national No.1, a decade ago, and he still hasn’t dropped a set this week as he seeks to become the first to win the title since Luke Saville in 2011.
Asked if he liked the sound of Cruz Hewitt as Wimbledon champion, he smiled: “I think that sounds pretty good. But obviously one more job’s not done, so I hope that happens … but we’ll see.
“I’m excited to get out there and I know the title’s one match away. But I’ve just got to keep doing the exact same things I’ve done all week. If it’s been working, I go out there and back myself, and then I’ll leave it all out there — and we’ll hope.”
It has set up a final for the young Sydney prospect, who’s risen up to No.606 in the world after a spell in the lower professional ranks, against 16-year-old American qualifier Jordan Lee.
Lleyton Hewitt, the 2002 champion who never got beyond the last-16 in the boys’ event, was left clearly thrilled at courtside along with family and a big entourage as he pumped his fist towards Cruz and gave him a slap on the back after the 75-minute win on another hot morning in SW19.
“I think he’s pretty proud,” said the youngster of his dad. “He’s happy with how far I’ve come, with my mentality, my game style. Yeah, he’s pretty happy.”
Often, Cruz will hit with former world No.1 Lleyton but, instead, he has warmed up before his last two matches against British wild card hero Arthur Fery, whose fairytale run was ended by Alexander Zverev overnight.
AAP
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