Exciting teenager Cruz Hewitt is on the cusp of ending a 15-year drought for Australians in the boys’ singles at Wimbledon after producing another quality display in a semi-final in London on Monday.
The 17-year-old son of former world No.1 Lleyton Hewitt has been in blistering form in sizzling conditions in the junior event at the All England Club and is yet to drop a set in reaching the final after a 6-4 6-4 win over 11th seed Thijs Boogaard.
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The test provided by Boogaard was his stiffest yet, with Hewitt challenged in both the first and second sets in a tight affair.
He clinched the sole break of the opening set in the third game while dominant on his own serve, which has improved immensely in the past 12 months.
Lleyton Hewitt, the last Australian man to win the men’s singles at Wimbledon in 2002, was among those courtside to watch his son continue to press his Dutch rival on return early in the second set.
He was unable to take advantage of the initial opportunities and then coughed up a service game of his own in a rare dip in concentration. The manner with which he rallied was impressive, with Hewitt retrieving the break immediately.
The Sydneysider is the first Australian since Alex de Minaur in 2016 to reach the boys’ decider, while the recently-retired Luke Saville was the last Aussie to win the prestigious junior event back in 2011.
Now coached by former Australian Davis Cup representative Wayne Arthurs, the right-hander packs a powerful one-two punch, accompanying his strong serve with a forehand that carries considerable power as well.
While taller than his father, Hewitt also has some of his defensive attributes as well, though his court coverage is not yet at the level of his dad, a dual-grand slam champion and former Australian Open finalist.
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