By Richard Pagliaro Tuesday, January 20, 2026
Photo credit: James D. Morgan/Getty
Their famous fathers were rivals; Cruz Hewitt and twins Myra and Charlene Federer It’s a friend.
Cruz Hewitt, son Former world number one Lleyton HewittWatched Jannik Sinner beat Hugo Gaston in the first round of the Australian Open sitting next to him Roger Federer’s daughters, Mira and Charlene.
Cruz Hewitt and compatriot James Duckworth received a doubles wild card and will play in an AO first-round doubles match on Court 13 on Wednesday.
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Loyal AO fans will remember 11 years ago when 20-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer hit the ground running against a young Cruz Hewitt in an Australian exo match.
during an interview Playing tennis now last fall, roger federer He called his victory over Lleyton Hewitt in the 2004 U.S. Open final one of the most important victories of his career and one of his greatest Grand Slam performances.
“I think it’s very important because not only is he at his best, but I’m at my best,” Federer told Tennis Now. “Also, Hewitt was kryptonite for me a few years ago. I had a really tough time against Leyton. I think for me to overcome that and take my game to the next level and actually be able to really dominate the final was a bit of a shock.
“But it showed me that I’m on such an incredible trajectory right now to be able to do this for the first time in New York. It was definitely an incredible moment.”
