Cruz Hewitt, son of the previous world no. 1, Lleyton, kicked off the season on the Canberra Challenger. The 16-year-old fell within the first qualifying spherical to Tracy Austin’s son, Brandon Holt, 7-6, 6-1 in an hour and 28 minutes.
The house participant made a dependable begin, delivering two breaks and forging a 5-1 benefit. Brandon denied a set level in sport ten on his serve and three extra within the tie break earlier than prevailing 11-9. Holt gained a lift and broke the younger gun’s resistance in set quantity two.
Cruz Hewitt, Australian Open 2024© Stream screenshot
Cruz served at solely 53%. He performed in opposition to six break factors and skilled 4 breaks. Brandon struggled behind the preliminary shot within the first set, enjoying in opposition to six break factors and defending 4.
The American took cost within the second set, dropping ten factors in seven video games and crusing excessive. The Aussie made a push on the return within the second sport of the encounter. He transformed a 3rd break level after the rival’s forehand error for an early break and 2-0.
Cruz Hewitt & Brandon Holt, Canberra Challenger 2025© Stream screenshot
Holt pulled the break again in sport three after Hewitt’s backhand error. He returned to the optimistic aspect and closed the fourth sport with a service winner for 2-2. An adolescent grabbed the fifth sport with a forehand down the road winner and made a push on the return within the subsequent one.
Cruz handed Brandon on the internet with a forehand crosscourt winner, incomes his second break and forging the benefit. The Aussie held within the seventh sport, transferring 5-2 up and controlling the scoreboard. The American secured the eighth sport with a service winner.
He needed to step in on the return at 3-5 and did that! Standing two factors from taking the opener, Hewitt sprayed a forehand error and netted a forehand to drop serve and produce his rival again to the optimistic aspect. Cruz created a set level on the return at 5-4.
Cruz Hewitt, Australian Open 2024© Stream screenshot
The teen missed it after a unfastened forehand earlier than his rival landed an ace for 5-5 and extra drama. The set went right into a tie break, which lasted 16 minutes. Holt missed a forehand on a set level at 6-5. Cruz had three extra set factors at 7-6. 8-7 and 9-8.
He squandered them and missed a routine forehand at 9-10, handing the opener to his opponent and fading from the court docket. Brandon held at love within the first sport of the second set and secured a break within the subsequent one to open a set and a break benefit.
Holt closed the fifth sport with a forehand winner and welcomed the rival’s primary backhand error within the subsequent one for an additional break and 5-1. Brandon fired a service winner within the seventh sport, sealing the deal in fashion and transferring into the second spherical.
