Cruz Hewitt wins his first match on the ATP Tour. The son of Australian tennis legend Lleyton Hewitt pays tribute to his father.
In the moment of victory, he paid tribute to his father. Cruz Hewitt, the son of Australian tennis legend Lleyton Hewitt, has won his first match on the ATP Tour.
The 17-year-old Cruz, currently ranked No. 612 in the world, defeated American Marcos Giron (No. 85) 6-3, 6-4.
After converting the match point, Hewitt pointed four fingers at his forehead, mimicking his father’s legendary “Vicht” celebration—the gesture that made the two-time Grand Slam champion famous throughout his career.
Hewitt: “He never gave the gesture a name”
More than two decades later, his son is reviving the iconic gesture.
“I think it’s called ‘Vicht.’ To be honest, I have to ask him again myself,” Cruz said afterward on Tennis Channel: “He never gave the gesture a name; he just always did it. When I was little, I saw it all the time, but I never asked why.”
17. Fearless. Victorious.
Following in his dad @lleytonhewitt‘s footsteps, Cruz is writing his own chapter in the Hewitt story @mubadaladcopen MubadalaDCOpen pic.twitter.com/UjHYWsR5wh
— ATP Tour (@atptour) July 28, 2026
The youngster’s joy was written all over his face: “It’s cool to be able to do this because my dad has played a huge role in getting me to where I am today. I’m grateful to have him by my side.”
Hewitt Narrowly Misses Wimbledon Title
With this victory, Hewitt became the youngest player to win a match at the ATP tournament in Washington since Japan’s Kei Nishikori in 2007.
Hewitt had already shown flashes of his talent at the junior tournament at Wimbledon, where he made it all the way to the final. There, he lost to American Jordan Lee (6-4, 4-6, 5-7).
If the young Australian continues to develop at such a rapid pace, he will likely soon be competing in the adult majors as well. True to the saying: Like father, like son.