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De Minaur beats Hewitt in 'weird' clash; Rafter backs young gun

World No.6 Alex de Minaur defeated 17-year-old Cruz Hewitt 6-2, 6-3 in Washington, calling the match 'weird' because of their close friendship. Pat Rafter has backed Hewitt to earn an Australian Open wildcard, dismissing 'nepo baby' criticism.

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De Minaur beats Hewitt in 'weird' clash; Rafter backs young gun

De Minaur beats Hewitt in 'weird' clash; Rafter backs young gun

The short answer

Alex de Minaur, the world No.6 and defending champion in Washington, faced 17-year-old Cruz Hewitt for the first time on the ATP tour. Hewitt, the son of former world No.1 Lleyton Hewitt and a Wimbledon junior finalist, lost 6-2, 6-3. De Minaur, who considers Hewitt a friend and regular guest at his Christmas table, said it was 'definitely weird' to play him and predicted 'many, many battles' ahead. Australian tennis legend Pat Rafter, meanwhile, praised Hewitt's character and said he has 'no doubt' Hewitt will play the Australian Open, with a wildcard 'a very good chance.' Rafter also rejected the 'nepo baby' label, arguing Hewitt has proven he can play. The match was a symbol of a generational shift in Australian tennis, and de Minaur now advances to a quarter-final against Brandon Nakashima.

Why it's trending

The trend is driven by the novelty of a first official ATP meeting between Alex de Minaur, Australia's current top player, and Cruz Hewitt, the teenage son of tennis great Lleyton Hewitt. The match also generated debate about opportunity and nepotism, with Pat Rafter weighing in on Hewitt's potential Australian Open wildcard — all unfolding in the same week as the Washington tournament.

World No.6 Alex de Minaur cruised past 17-year-old Cruz Hewitt 6-2, 6-3 in the second round of the Washington Open, booking a quarter-final against Brandon Nakashima. According to SMH, de Minaur finished 'with relative ease' in barely an hour, though Hewitt showed flashes of promise after a shaky start. De Minaur, who is friends with Hewitt off the court, described the match as 'weird,' noting they have grown up together and even shared Christmas dinners.

Multiple sources corroborate the details. SMH and ESPN both reported the scoreline and de Minaur's post-match comments, with ESPN quoting him saying, 'It was an amazing feeling... I'm glad that I managed to get through, but I'm sure we're going to have many, many battles in the years to come.' Nine.com.au adds a separate dimension: Pat Rafter's exclusive interview, in which he backed Hewitt's progress and dismissed critics who call him a 'nepo baby.' Rafter argued, 'You can call him a nepo baby or whatever you want, but he has to do it himself, and he's done it himself.'

The context matters: Cruz Hewitt, son of former world No.1 Lleyton Hewitt, recently reached the Wimbledon junior boys' final, a result that signaled his potential. De Minaur, now 26? (the exact age is not in the sources), has been a top-10 player and routinely beats fellow Australians. Rafter, who himself once held the world No.1 ranking for one week, said Hewitt's recent win proved he can play, and that with few other Australian juniors emerging, a wildcard into the Australian Open is highly likely. Rafter also revealed he has largely detached from the tennis tour and is now promoting padel, saying he doesn't miss the isolation of singles tennis.

This match marks a passing-of-the-torch moment in Australian tennis, blending friendship, competition, and the weight of legacy. The 'nepo baby' debate is central: Rafter's defense highlights that even with connections, a player must perform. As Hewitt develops, the tennis world will watch whether he can justify the hype. De Minaur's quarter-final run remains the immediate focus, but the long-term story is whether Hewitt can follow in his father's footsteps — and how Rafter's words influence the Australian Open selection committee.

Timeline

  1. Cruz Hewitt reaches Wimbledon junior final

    The 17-year-old son of Lleyton Hewitt reaches the boys' singles final at Wimbledon, establishing his credentials as one of Australia's top young talents (per SMH).

  2. De Minaur defeats Hewitt in Washington

    Alex de Minaur, world No.6 and defending champion, beats Cruz Hewitt 6-2, 6-3 in their first official ATP meeting, advancing to the quarter-finals (SMH, ESPN).

  3. Rafter backs Hewitt for Australian Open wildcard

    Pat Rafter, in an exclusive with Nine.com.au, says Hewitt will play the Australian Open and that a wildcard is likely, dismissing 'nepo baby' criticism.

Questions people ask

Why did Alex de Minaur call the match 'weird'?

De Minaur and Cruz Hewitt are close friends off the court, with Hewitt a regular guest at de Minaur's Christmas dinner. Playing such a familiar face on the tour was surreal for de Minaur, who said, 'It was definitely weird.'

Will Cruz Hewitt get an Australian Open wildcard?

Pat Rafter told Nine.com.au he has 'no doubt' Hewitt will play the Australian Open, adding, 'there's a very good chance he'll get a wildcard.' Rafter noted that Australia lacks other emerging juniors and that Hewitt has proven he can play.

Is Cruz Hewitt a 'nepo baby'?

Pat Rafter rejected this label, saying, 'You can call him a nepo baby or whatever you want, but he has to do it himself, and he's done it himself.' Rafter acknowledged that being Lleyton Hewitt's son brings extra pressure but insisted Cruz's achievements are earned.

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