Cruz Hewitt, the 17-year-old son of former Wimbledon champion Lleyton Hewitt, has advanced to the boys' singles final at Wimbledon without dropping a set. He defeated Thijs Boogaard of the Netherlands 6-4, 6-4 in the semi-finals on Friday, becoming the first Australian to reach the boys' final since Alex de Minaur a decade ago.
Preparation with Arthur Fery
Hewitt credited a practice session with British wildcard Arthur Fery, who played in the men's semi-finals on Friday, for helping him prepare. The session took place just before Hewitt's own semi-final and sharpened his all-round game. Fery's run ended with a loss to Alexander Zverev, but the practice proved beneficial for Hewitt.
Father's Support
Lleyton Hewitt, who won Wimbledon in 2002, was courtside for his son's match and gave him a congratulatory pat on the back. Cruz said of his father: 'I think he's pretty proud. He's happy with how far I've come with my mentality, my game style.' While Wayne Arthurs serves as Hewitt's coach, Lleyton acts as a mentor and source of positivity. 'He's in my corner,' Cruz said. 'Every time I look over at him, he's showing me positivity.'
Composure on Court
Hewitt remained level-headed throughout the match, even after being broken early in the second set. He broke back immediately and won five of the next six games to secure victory. 'I'm really happy with my performance,' he said. 'I was very level-headed and stayed pretty composed throughout that whole match.'
Handling Expectations
Growing up as the son of a tennis legend comes with challenges, but Hewitt appears unfazed. 'It's obviously always there, but I take the positives out of it,' he said. 'I do what I can, block out all the other noise. It doesn't bother me too much.' Unlike Leo Borg, son of Björn Borg, who struggled with the pressure, Hewitt seems to take it in stride, attributing his resilience to his personality.
Physical Development and Game
Hewitt has grown to approximately 6ft 2in, which has boosted his serve. Against Boogaard, his average first serve speed was 120mph (194kph). With a flat backhand, heavy forehand, and good movement, he considers grass his best surface. On Sunday, he will face the United States' Jordan Lee for the title, seeking to become the first Australian boys' champion since De Minaur lost in the 2016 final to Denis Shapovalov.
Final Preparations
Looking ahead to the final, Hewitt said: 'I've just got to do the exact same things I've done all week. I go out there and back myself and then I leave it all out there.'
