Lleyton Hewitt’s 16-year-old son is set to follow in the footsteps of his tennis-great dad after being handed huge Grand Slam offer

Nearly 12 years after his dad was awarded a wildcard at the Australian Open, Cruz Hewit is set to follow in the footsteps of his father, Lleyton, after being handed a berth at the 2025 Grand Slam.

In fact, Lleyton’s first appearance at the Australian Open came back in 1997 where he was again handed a wildcard at the age of 15.

Cruz, 16, is just starting out in the fledgling years of his tennis career and will be hoping to reach the main draw of the men’s singles tournament at Melbourne Park, 28 years after his dad’s debut.

The youngster, who was born in 2008, is currently ranked No 106 in the world junior rankings having reached a career-high of No 99 in 2024.

He is also ranked No 1264 on the ATP Tour, having reached the second round of two Challenge Tour events in 2024.

Cruz is one of Australia’s most exciting upcoming talents having recently appeared at the Newcombe Medal Awards alongside his father and mother Bec.

Cruz (right) will follow in the footsteps of his dad (left) who made his first appearance at Melbourne Park 28 years ago

But the young star is not showing any signs that the expectations on his shoulders that his father’s achievements, having won two Grand Slams during his glittering career, may be weighing on him.

Cruz, who was nominated for the male junior athlete of the year at last week’s Newcombe medal, said: ‘It is what it is. But I don’t really mind.

‘It just drives me to be better.’

Cruz has clinched two ITF junior titles this year and took his first professional win in August, beating Dutch player Thijmen Loof at the M15 tennis tournament in Bali.

In 2024, he had been handed a wild card to play in the junior Australian Open where he was beaten by Alexander Razeghi in the first round. 

His father urged patience over the emerging star’s future, claiming that it is getting harder for young players to break onto the men’s tour.

‘It’s getting harder and harder to jump on to the men’s tour at such a young age and to make that transition,’ Lleyton Hewitt said.

‘So he’s just got to enjoy it. 

‘And it’s stepping stones, it’s about always trying to keep improving.’

It comes as Simona Halep also received a wild card for January’s tournament, after the Romanian star dropped to 877 in the women’s rankings following her doping suspension. 

Cruz is one of 11 Australian men in the field for the qualifying rounds. Bernard Tomic, Jason Kubler and Alex Bolt will all be vying to reach the main draw. 

Thirteen Aussie female players were also included in the women’s draw, including Kimberly Birrell, Maddison Inglis, Arina Rodionova Taylah Preston and Destanee Aiava.