Cruz Hewitt, son of former world number one Lleyton Hewitt, won his first ATP Tour-level match on July 28, 2026, at the Washington Open by defeating Marcos Giron 6-3, 6-4 in 74 minutes in the first round [1, 2, 3]. The 17-year-old qualifier, ranked 612th in the world, reached the tournament's second round as a result [1, 4, 5].
Hewitt’s victory made him the youngest player to win a match at Washington since Kei Nishikori in 2007 and marked him as the fourth man born in 2008 or later to record a tour-level win, following Diego Dedura, Thijs Boogaard, and Moise Kouame [1, 4, 5]. The Washington Open is a notable event for Hewitt’s family, as his father won the tournament in 2004 during a career that earned him 30 ATP titles [1, 2, 3].
After his win, Hewitt celebrated by flexing his right bicep, mimicking a famous gesture of his father’s, whom he credited as a major influence on his game and mindset [2, 3]. "He just always did it and when I was little I’ve just always seen it. It’s cool to be able to do that now because obviously my dad has been a huge part of where I am today," Hewitt said [2]. He added that his father’s advice helped him handle the pressure during his first main draw match, telling him to "enjoy it and take every point one-by-one, really enjoy the atmosphere and the crowd" [1].
Speaking about the event, Hewitt said, "It’s pretty surreal to win here. Obviously I saw my dad play here. I came to his last tournament I remember. There are so many memories of that. To make it to round two, it’s very special" [1]. He also spoke about feeling comfortable playing at tournaments where his father competed, saying, "It’s pretty exciting because I’ve dreamed of playing at these tournaments and I’ve seen behind the scenes and to be in the gym and the locker room with these guys, it’s pretty cool" [2].
Earlier in July 2026, Hewitt finished runner-up to American Jordan Lee in the Wimbledon boys’ final, showcasing his rise through the junior ranks [1, 4, 5].
In the next round at Washington, Hewitt is set to face either top seed and defending champion Alex de Minaur or Stefanos Tsitsipas, who play their second-round match following Hewitt’s victory [1, 2, 3]. Hewitt described the prospect of playing de Minaur as "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. He’s taught me so much, I think that would be a pretty cool memory for us" [4].
Hewitt’s second-round match will take place on July 29, 2026, as he aims to advance further in the ATP 500 event [3].
