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Hewitt to take next step in dad’s footsteps

Hewitt to take next step in dad’s footsteps

Cruz Hewitt is set to make his Australian representative debut, picked on the Junior Davis Cup side to play in the Asia-Oceania qualifying events this month in Kazakhstan.

Hewitt’s father Lleyton was a staple of the Australian Davis Cup team throughout the 2000s and 2010s, after making his debut in 1999, and remains the Australian captain – a non-playing role.

Lleyton still holds several Australian Davis Cup records, including most wins, most singles wins, most ties played and most years played.

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Cruz, 15, is one of six teens set to represent Australia in the Junior Davis Cup and Junior Billie Jean King Cup events.

He will be joined by 16-year-old Western Australian Cameron Burton and 15-year-old South Australian Jeffrey Strydom.

They will be mentored by former doubles world No.2 Sandon Stolle.

“I look forward to taking my first Junior Davis Cup team away and to continue supporting our high performing athletes,” Stolle said.

“It’s a great experience for these young guys to play for Australia and be part of the green and gold history of tennis.”

The Junior Billie Jean King Cup team is 14-year-old Renee Alame, 15-year-old Ava Beck and 15-year-old Tahlia Kikkinis.

The top four nations will progress to the finals in November.

Australia are five-time Junior Davis Cup winners, lastly in 2009 with Luke Saville, Jason Kubler and Joey Swaysland. 

Australia are also five-time winners of the Junior BJK Cup (formerly Fed Cup) winners, most recently in 2011 when Ash Barty, Belinda Woolcock and Brooke Rishbleth defeated Canada in the final.

Both qualifying tournaments take place in Shymkent in the country’s south. The Junior Billie Jean King Cup from 13-18 May, followed by the Junior Davis Cup from 20-25 May. 

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