- Cruz Hewitt, 15, selected for Junior Davis Cup debut
- Following in the footsteps of his father Lleyton Hewitt
- Asia-Oceania qualifying event in Kazakhstan from May 20-25
Cruz Hewitt has been selected to make his debut for Australia in the Junior Davis Cup, following in the footsteps of his illustrious father Lleyton’s team tennis.
Hewitt senior captains the senior Davis Cup team in the ‘World Cup of tennis’ event that has long been one of the favorite parts of his sporting life – and the man who has won the Cup twice as a player will proud of his talent son continues the tradition now.
NSW youngster Cruz, the 226th junior in the ITF rankings, will win the green and gold for the first time after making his grand slam debut in the boys’ singles at the Australian Open earlier this year.
Twenty-seven years after Hewitt senior became the youngest qualifier to make the Open main draw at the age of 15, Cruz lost on his first appearance at Melbourne Park.
Hewitt will play alongside 16-year-old West Australian Cameron Burton and 15-year-old South Australian Jeffrey Strydom in the Asia-Oceania qualifying event in Kazakhstan from May 20 to 25.
Cruz Hewitt has been selected to make his debut for Australia in the Junior Davis Cup, following in the footsteps of his illustrious father Lleyton
NSW youngster Cruz, the ITF’s 226th ranked junior, will win the green and gold for the first time after making his grand slam debut in the Australian Open boys’ singles earlier this year
Cruz’s father Lleyton Hewitt (pictured with wife Bec) is an Australian tennis legend
The top four countries in qualifying will advance to the November final.
The team will be captained by Sandon Stolle, the former world number 2 doubles player, who was himself the son of a famous tennis father, Fred Stolle, the two-time Grand Slam winner.
“I look forward to bringing my first Junior Davis Cup team and continuing to support our high-performing athletes,” said Stolle, Tennis Australia’s National Development Squad Coach in South Australia.
“It’s a great experience for these young boys to play for Australia and be part of the green and gold of tennis history.”
The competition for teams with players aged 16 and under will take place after a qualifying match for the girls’ equivalent event, the Junior Billie Jean King Cup, at the same venue in Shymkent next week.
The Australian Junior BJK Cup team consists of 14-year-olds Renee Alame (NSW), Ava Beck (15, Victoria) and Tahlia Kokkinis (15, Queensland) and will be captained by Jessica Moore, who played for Australia in the senior competition.