Little ‘Lleyton' Hewitt crashes out of Wimbledon as famous parents look on
While the rest of the competitors in the boys' singles could plot the next stage along their career path in blissful anonymity, their entourages nurturing and readying them for a breakthrough in an imagined future, 16-year-old Cruz Hewitt enjoyed the blessing and endured the curse of enough prying eyes to have filled one of the show courts.
In the shadow of the arena where Lleyton Hewitt won a career-defining Wimbledon title 23 years ago, his son's first attempt to join his father on the honours board ended in the second round, losing 6-3, 6-0 to Finnish 11th seed Oskari Paldanius.
One imagines more was learned by playing for just under an hour with such expectation, and amid such attention from intrigued passers-by, than any of his previous junior events.
The cramped Court 5 attracted sports fans and celebrity hunters in equal measure as the famous parents of Hewitt jnr (his actress and reality TV host mother Bec is a household name in Australia) took their seats on the quaint park benches, the 2002 champion's presence guaranteeing the kind of wisdom and insight most competitors would need Lottery funding to afford.
The typically feisty Aussie contingent was eager to get behind the teenager, the noise whenever he threatened to make the first set competitive a stark contrast to the isolated hand claps for the impressive Paldanius.
Alas, this was literally the boy versus the man as the physically daunting Finn left the Aussie clinging for a semblance of hope from the moment he broke serve in the second game.
In truth, it was like watching two boxers in different weight divisions, the 18-month age gap decisive with Paldanius, who dashed through the second set, so athletically developed he would not have looked out of place in the men's draw.
How much talent has passed through the Hewitt genes? Evidently plenty, most noticeably a whipped forehand with enough backlift to offer a wind source in the event of an energy blackout in south-west London.
The famed Hewitt reverse baseball cap ensured those taking a fleeting view of the match were in no doubt as to which of the youngsters was the Australian, as did the occasional show of petulance when a few second-serve returns too many were dumped into the net.
The personal disappointment became a factor in the second set when the willingness to excel did not match the ability to unruffle an opponent in cruise control.
'Stop looking so cool, Dad,' young Hewitt suggested to his father, who was never going to offer grand gestures or show signs of anything but beaming pride, no matter what the outcome.
This was one of those tough miles on what the young Hewitt will hope will be an invigorating journey, but these beautiful courts will look even more alluring if a feisty, ultra-competitive Hewitt can be nurtured to continue the family business.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
a minute ago
- The Independent
Spurs line up alternative transfer targets after Arsenal hijack Eze deal
Tottenham Hotspur are actively pursuing new attacking players after being outbid by Arsenal for their primary target, Eberechi Eze. The club is facing considerable supporter unrest and pressure due to recent transfer setbacks, i ncluding losing Eze and Morgan Gibbs-White, alongside James Maddison 's injury. Spurs have made approaches for Maghnes Akliouche and Tyler Dibling, and are discussing a potential move for Xavi Simons as his transfer to Chelsea stalls. Nico Paz from Como is considered the most achievable transfer target, with progress anticipated imminently. Other players like Morgan Rogers and Savinho are being considered, but their high valuations pose a challenge for the club.
The Independent
a minute ago
- The Independent
Divisive US Open mixed doubles was a surprise success but must change to survive
'Spectacular awaits' was the tagline adorning every advertising hoarding inside Arthur Ashe and Louis Armstrong for this week's revamped US Open mixed doubles tournament. The final verdict may be slightly more lukewarm. Wednesday night's result was victory for the defending champions and only actual mixed doubles team, Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassorri. It was also a win both for doubles specialists, who face an uphill battle even to be taken seriously, and for tennis purists everywhere. And something of an embarrassment for the US Open, which made a big song and dance of the $1m prize pot in order to attract singles stars, only to see none of its top players take home the cheque in the end. Not that the tournament would admit this experiment didn't quite go to plan, of course. In other ways the event was a roaring success: cheap tickets, headline names, and the novelty factor attracted healthy crowds, with Arthur Ashe packed for the final, and the scheduling meant all eyes were on the event rather than any clashing singles encounters, an important boon for the sport. The tennis itself on show – while often not the highest quality – proved just how exciting mixed doubles can be, even when played by a host of teams hastily scrambled together. Vavassori said after his triumph: 'These two days will be really important for doubles in the future. We showed that doubles players are great players and this product can grow.' But the fast-four, no-ad, final set tiebreak-format, the tiny draw, and the fact that the entire first round and quarter-finals were condensed into one day, inevitably cheapened the product. This had the feel of a contrived show, an eye-catching gimmick; it never once felt like a real grand slam. Even participating players Jack Draper and Karolina Muchova called it an 'exhibition', a telling slip of the tongue. Sure, the semis and finals had a more serious feel than the knockabout on day one. But it'd be hard to argue that any of the singles stars were playing for the prestige and honour of a grand slam title, rather than the money. Which makes a fun-and-games exho feel quite sad. The US Open may regard itself as the most forward-thinking of the slams, but there's a fine line between innovation and completely reinventing the wheel. The majors are supposed to be the pinnacle of the sport, a test of human endurance, tactical skill and mental resilience. It'd be hard to call this event that. Whether the executives think it's an experiment worth repeating, as seems likely, we'll have to wait and see. But if they do push on with their 'reimagined' slam, it shouldn't be without further changes. The tournament was beset with problems from the beginning, with players including major draws Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff pulling out, nullifying the hype as star names swapped in and out. While the idea of watching the world's best singles stars playing together is hugely entertaining, the pairings were meaningless. Caty McNally admitted after her first round win: 'Sunday night I was home in Cincinnati and my agent called me, and he said you have 60 seconds to tell me if you want to play with Lorenzo Musetti.' The last-minute combinations – not helped by the prolonged 1000 events in Canada and Cincinnati – meant that the majority of teams in action at Flushing Meadows did not even practice before taking to the court, justifying the criticism of many established doubles players that this was never a serious event. Naomi Osaka even turned up for her first-round match in a practice kit. The obvious exception to that lack of effort was Errani and Vavassori. Wholly expectedly, they had a point to prove, and dumped out second seeds Elena Rybakina and Taylor Fritz (amazingly, the only actual mixed doubles pairing wasn't seeded) in 40 minutes. The idea that a grand slam doubles match can take 40 minutes makes a mockery of the entire thing. 'We were playing for the doubles teams who could not be here,' Vavassori said afterwards. 'We were the team that could lose everything,' he added after the final. And unsurprisingly, they produced the best tennis of the week. Of all the matches, Draper/Jessica Pegula vs Carlos Alcaraz / Emma Raducanu had the biggest star quality, and it was an entertaining showing. But it was notable how much the tennis quality dropped off from the Andrey Rublev/Muchova vs Errani/Vavassori match. Not coincidentally, that encounter starred the only pairing of real doubles players, plus a team whose skill sets suit the doubles format exceptionally well. As beaten finalist Iga Swiatek said: 'You proved that mixed doubles players are smarter tactically than singles players, I guess.' Then there's the fact that the tournament was scuppered before it even began by the never-ending disasterclass that is tennis scheduling, with Cincinnati champions Swiatek and Alcaraz given 24 hours to recover before starting play in New York on Tuesday. The ailing Jannik Sinner 's withdrawal meant that his partner Katerina Siniakova, a grand slam and Olympic mixed doubles champion, was forced out of the event. Siniakova then suffered the financial double-whammy of not receiving any of the prize pot in New York, as well as not being able to play in this week's WTA event in Cleveland. Her share of the loot at the US Open would instead go to Danielle Collins, a former top-10 singles player who has raised eyebrows by repeatedly bragging about the expensive holidays her winnings pay for. Collins can do what she likes with her money, of course, but it feels profoundly unjust that doubles players, who scrape a living doing an equally demanding and worthwhile sport, have been deprived of a significant injection of cash. For all that players bang on about increasing their share of tournament revenue, the usual suspects were silent on that subject this week. The US Open is a business and sees this as a commercial enterprise, but it is sport first and foremost, and players' livelihoods are at stake. Perhaps the way forward is to have both events co-exist: this as a fun exhibition, designed to attract more eyeballs onto a lesser-known discipline, with a real mixed doubles event – under usual grand slam rules, with a bigger draw based on doubles rankings – in its usual second-week spot. That way everyone wins: the singles players get their paycheck, spectators get entertaining combinations and more tennis, and the doubles specialists get to do their job, playing for the prestige of a major title, with no asterisk attached.
The Independent
a minute ago
- The Independent
Isak, Rodrygo, Simons? Ten Premier League transfers that could still happen before deadline day
Transfer deadline day is just around the corner, with clubs across Europe having until 1 September to wrap up the final deals of a busy summer window. The Premier League once again heads the spending across the continent, with multiple English clubs having spent over £100m this summer, from Sunderland's £140m spree to Liverpool's deal for Florian Wirtz, which alone could reach £116m. Several big deals are still close too, with Arsenal on the verge of signing Eberechi Eze for £67.5m, while Chelsea are completing a deal for Julio Enciso and Nottingham Forest are close to wrapping up a move for Douglas Luiz. And with just 11 days left until the window slams shut, there is plenty going on behind the scenes as clubs look to make their final additions ahead of the 2025/26 season starting in earnest. Here are 10 Premier League deals that could still be done before the deadline. Alexander Isak Alexander Isak has been the subject of the summer's most protracted transfer saga, with a move to Liverpool constantly being touted but so far failing to materialise. The Sweden striker was the subject of a £110m bid from Liverpool earlier in the window, but the swiftness of the rejection from Newcastle means the Reds have not returned with a second offer. Most recently, the 25-year-old took matters into his own hands with a social media statement accusing his club of 'broken promises' over his future, though so far it has only served to harden Newcastle's stance that he will not be moving this summer. Plenty could change ahead of the deadline – with the Magpies perhaps not wanting to keep an unhappy player – but with the club struggling to sign a replacement, this is a deal that will go to the wire either way. Alejandro Garnacho The story around Alejandro Garnacho's future is another one that has dragged through the summer, with little movement initially before Chelsea began to make official moves towards signing the Argentine. Garnacho was essentially kicked out of the Manchester United squad by Ruben Amorim, with the winger not joining the club on their US tour and not being part of the squad for the opening game against Arsenal. Recent reports suggest that he has told all parties that he will only accept a move to Chelsea and turned down an offer from Bayern Munich in recent days. He has agreed personal terms with the Blues ahead of a move. United value the Argentina international at £50m, with Chelsea valuing him closer to £30m. But the Old Trafford hierarchy are set on their valuation after seeing other deals of a similar nature this summer, such as Noni Madueke's £48m switch from Chelsea to Arsenal. Xavi Simons As ever, the end of the window promises to be a busy one for Chelsea, and Xavi Simons is the other key target for the club before deadline day. The Dutchman, who can play in several positions across the forward line, favours a move to Chelsea and has given the club the green light for a deal, though the Blues are working on sales before bringing in another signing. RB Leipzig would be happy to let Simons leave for around £60m, though this deal and the move for Garnacho will likely affect each other, with the Blues keen to not overpay for the Manchester United man in order to afford Simons. Tottenham are also interested in Simons, among a number of options, after losing out on Eze to Arsenal. Yoane Wissa Yoane Wissa has quietly become another one of the most drawn-out sagas of the summer window, with the Brentford man the subject of interest from clubs including Newcastle, Spurs and Nottingham Forest. However, it is the Magpies who lead the race, with the club seeing a recent £40m offer for Wissa turned down by Brentford. Much like Isak, Wissa has gone on a 'strike' of types, accusing the club of not honouring a promise that he could move this summer. The Congo international favours a move to Newcastle and believes it could happen after the Bees completed the signing of Dango Ouattara from Bournemouth. However, Brentford value their top scorer closer to the £50m, with Newcastle's latest bid falling well short of that. This is a story to follow for several reasons, as dominoes could fall across the market if this one goes through. Nicolas Jackson Nicolas Jackson's future has all of a sudden become the subject of plenty of intrigue, with the Senegal striker now finding himself down the pecking order at Chelsea after the arrival of Liam Delap and Joao Pedro. Despite a 24/25 season in which he impressed at times, the 24-year-old is now free to leave Stamford Bridge, though Chelsea value him as high as £80m (however, reports also suggest a deal could be done closer to £60m depending on various factors). Plenty of Europe's top sides are interested, from AC Milan to Premier League clubs including Newcastle, but there is no serious progress so far and it could go to the deadline. Savinho Savinho recently emerged as a surprise target for Tottenham, with Thomas Frank's side now needing attacking reinforcements after the injury to James Maddison and the failure to capture Morgan Gibbs-White. City don't necessarily want to sell the Brazilian – with the club hierarchy currently blocking a move for the winger – and Spurs have already sent one proposal, which was worth around £51m and was rejected. It is thought City would sell for the right price, which would be a sum closer to £70m, though the move is not progressing at the time of writing. Rodrygo This is a potential deal that is interlinked with the future of Savinho, with City targeting Rodrygo if Savinho does leave. While the club hierarchy are blocking any deal for Savinho at the moment, it is understood that they would make a play for Rodrygo if their winger moved to Spurs. Madrid would want at least €100m (£87m) for Rodrygo, who is seemingly not in Xabi Alonso's plans after being left out of Madrid's opening game of the season against Osasuna last weekend. Marc Guehi In addition to Eze, Crystal Palace could be set to lose a second key player in the form of captain Marc Guehi. The England international has just one year left on his contract and though he is not pushing for a move, he is the subject of interest from clubs including Liverpool and Newcastle, who even placed a £60m bid for him last summer. Liverpool now seem the most concrete option for the centre-back, with the Reds light in defence if Virgil van Dijk or Ibrahima Konate were to get injured, but they are yet to agree a deal with Palace for the defender. As reported by The Independent, the Selhurst Park club have been open to selling Guehi this summer given his contract expires next year, but there has recently been a £10m difference in valuation between themselves and Liverpool. While the Anfield hierarchy are not budging from £35m, Palace are insistent on £45m. Chelsea have also been linked with a move after injuries to Wesley Fofana and Levi Colwill, though it could be a little late for the Blues, while Newcastle and Spurs remain on the periphery. Gianluigi Donnarumma Donnarumma has emerged as one of the surprise exits of the summer after helping PSG to a treble last season, with the French club's signing of Lucas Chevalier seemingly relegating the Italy international to a supporting role if he were to stay. That has opened the door to a move away from the French capital, with the seasoned 'keeper attracting plenty of interest from around Europe. Though Manchester United were touted as a potential destination originally, it is Manchester City who have emerged as the most concrete option in recent weeks, despite the recent arrival of James Trafford. However, any deal for the Italian hinges on the future of Ederson, who is the subject of interest from Galatasaray. If the Brazilian completes the move, then Donnarumma could well move to the Etihad. PSG are said to want around £26m for the 26-year-old, with personal terms unlikely to be an issue if Ederson leaves. Maghnes Akliouche Tottenham have identified AS Monaco winger Maghnes Akliouche as an alternative target to Savinho, as The Independent reported this week, with the Frenchman also being monitored by several of the continent's top clubs. Monaco would want £47.5m for the 23-year-old, who impressed for the Ligue 1 giants last term with seven goals in all competitions and scored last week in the club's opening win over Le Havre. With a deal for Savinho so far being blocked and his £70m asking price seen as steep, this could be a deal that accelerates quickly after the failed move for Eze.
