Lleyton Hewitt discusses the rise of his 11-year-old tennis prodigy son Cruz

Lleyton Hewitt, 38, became the youngest qualifier for the Australian Open in 1997, just one month shy of his 16th birthday. 

And it appears the retired Australian tennis player’s 11-year-old tennis prodigy son, Cruz Lleyton, is following in his famous father’s footsteps. 

Appearing on Nine’s Today show on Wednesday, Lleyton spoke about his son involvement in the Tennis Australia junior tournaments.    

Lleyton is married to former Home And Away actress Bec Hewitt, 36, whom he shares son Cruz and daughters Mia Rebecca, 14, and Ava Sydney, nine.

Budding tennis star Cruz has been seen on the court with his dad since he was just a toddler, and now as a pre-teen is competing in junior tennis matches.

Lleyton was on Today to discuss his Australian captaincy of the ATP Cup and the upcoming Bushfire Appeal fundraising event, Rally For Relief. 

Budding tennis star! Cruz has been seen on the court with his famous father since he was just a toddler, and now as a pre-teen is competing in junior tennis matches

‘When will we see him [Cruz] on the circuit?’ Host Karl Stefanovic (left) asked Lleyton (right) when his son might be going pro, as the retired sportsman himself went pro at 16

Host Karl Stefanovic asked Lleyton: ‘Your young fella is playing good tennis at the moment, too. When will we see him [Cruz] on the circuit?’ 

‘I don’t know, he’s playing a lot of the Tennis Australia junior tournaments at the moment,’ the proud father said.

He added: ‘I’ve sort of done the full circle now, and I’m back to being a tennis parent as well.’ 

‘It’s a lot easier for me being out there playing, but even sitting on the sideline watching Cruz in a junior tournament to watching Alex [Alex de Minaur] and Nick [Nick Kyrgios] at the ATP Cup… I thoroughly enjoy it.’ 

‘I’m being a tennis parent as well’: While Lleyton is the Australian captain for the ATP Cup, he also spoke fondly of sitting on the sidelines watching his young son compete

Family life: Lleyton is married to former Home And Away actress Bec Hewitt (right) whom he shares son Cruz and daughters Mia Rebecca, 14, and Ava Sydney, ninE

Lleyton quit school and turned pro when he won his first ATP tour event (the 1998 Next Generation Adelaide International) as an Adelaide teenager.  

The former world No. 1 player retired from professional tennis in 2016.

Rally For Relief will be broadcast on Nine from 7pm on Wednesday, January 15

Tune in: Rally For Relief will be broadcast on Nine from 7pm on Wednesday, January 15