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Telegraph
08-07-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
Little ‘Lleyton' Hewitt crashes out of Wimbledon as famous parents look on
Any British player feeling overwhelmed by pressure during Wimbledon fortnight ought to consider how it feels to be thrust on to the grass courts as the son of a champion. 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.
BBC News
07-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Warwick teen ready for dream Wimbledon debut
A British teenager who started playing when he was four years old has said appearing at Wimbledon has been his dream since he was a little Redza from Warwickshire is due take part in the doubles tournament at Junior Wimbledon on Monday after receiving a wildcard for the 17-year-old qualified with his playing partner, Felix Bockelmann-Evans, after winning a doubles event at the National Championships in coach, Gary Naughton, said: "It couldn't happen to a nicer boy." Redza said when he first started playing "I didn't think anything of tennis", but he stuck with it and when he was nine years old he had to make the choice between pursuing tennis or playing football."From then on its been really good fun playing tennis," he said. Redza is currently ranked sixth in the UK at the under-18 level and has recently been selected to play for Great Britain at an event in Naughton said he was "very proud" of him and added: "It's one thing having talent, but the next thing is you've got to have that desire and work ethic behind it."His mother, Fifi, said he had been "working and training hard" to be ready for Wimbledon and had also secured a four year tennis scholarship at Santa Clara University in California, starting in January 2026. Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
The Australian
07-07-2025
- Sport
- The Australian
Lleyton Hewitt's son Cruz Hewitt wins on Wimbledon debut
Cruz Hewitt, son of 2002 Wimbledon champion Lleyton Hewitt, followed in his father's footsteps with victory on his debut at the All England Club on Sunday. With Hewitt Sr watching on from the stands, the 16-year-old rolled over Russia's Savva Rybkin 6-1 6-2 in the first round of the boys' competition. Cruz Hewitt celebrates during his win over Savva Rybkin in the boy's singles first round at Wimbledon. Picture: Getty Images Cruz, who sported a back-to-front cap that was his father's trademark style, made the second round of the juniors competition at the Australian Open earlier this year after losing in the first round of qualifying for the men's event. He will next face Finnish 11th seed Oskari Paldanius next. Lleyton, who also won the 2001 US Open during his decorated career, remains the last Australian man to win a Grand Slam singles title. Cruz Hewitt won his boy's singles first round match on debut at Wimbledon. Picture: Getty Images Cruz Hewitt was watched on by father Lleyton as he won his boy's singles first round match. Picture: Getty Images Earlier this year, Cruz Hewitt says he feels no pressure carrying the famous family name declaring his goal is to one day surpass his father's feats on a tennis court. The son of former world No.1 and two-time grand slam champion Lleyton Hewitt, Cruz is forging his own path in professional tennis and has set himself the lofty goal of one day surpassing his father. 'There's definitely pros and cons (to being a Hewitt) but I try to focus on the good things that come with it,' he told Channel 9. 'The pressure doesn't bother me too much, I feel like it's kind of a challenge to, you know, be better than him, so that's what I'm trying to do.' Cruz Hewitt celebrates his victory against Savva Rybkin. Picture: Getty Images Cruz Hewitt celebrates his win during the boy's singles first round at Wimbledon. Picture: Getty Images Cruz got his first taste of top-flight tennis in January when he was handed a qualifying wildcard for the Australian Open. But the fixturing gods gave the 16-year-old no favours as he was knocked out in the first round of qualifying by former top-20 player Nikoloz Basilashvili in straight sets. Later, his Junior Australian Open run ended at the hands of junior world No.1 Jan Kumstat, 6-3 7-6. 'It's good to be here and it was great to get the opportunity to play in the men's qualifying,' Cruz said. 'I think it was a great step forward and I learned a lot from the experience with the crowd and just playing those men's players instead of the junior players. 'I feel like playing the men, every point is the same level and there's no let-up (whereas) in juniors, you get a few cheaper points here and there.' Read related topics: Wimbledon
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Israeli tennis teen star Mika Buchnik bows out at Wimbledon
MIKA BUCHNIK returns a shot to China's Rueien Zhang during the 18-year-old Israeli's 7-5, 7-6(6) loss over the weekend in the Wimbledon Juniors tournament. (photo credit: Michael J. Lewis) She was on Court 5 of the All England Lawn Tennis Club, trailing badly in a first-round Wimbledon Girls' Singles match. Still, she wanted to capture the moment. Even when things were looking grim Saturday, Mika Buchnik took a moment to stop and look around. Advertisement She was on Court 5 of the All England Lawn Tennis Club, trailing badly in a first-round Wimbledon Girls' Singles match. Still, she wanted to capture the moment. 'This place is amazing,' Buchnik said. 'At one point when it was 4-love down, I just wanted to look around and remember how it feels, because I want to be back here. I really hope I can come here again. It's a reminder of why you're doing this.' 'This' is competing at the highest levels of pro tennis, and Buchnik is getting closer and closer to doing that. The 18-year-old Israeli has risen up the junior ranks to now being ranked No. 31 in the world. Last September, she became the first Israeli – boy or girl – to win a J500 singles title, claiming the Osaka Mayor's Cup in Japan. ISRAELI TEEN Liam Oved both won their first matches at US Open juniors qualifying before bowing out in the second round (credit: LEO STOLCK) And Saturday she was back at Wimbledon, competing in singles for the second time in her career. She put up a great fight against No. 15 seed Ruien Zhang of China but ultimately lost, 7-5, 7-6(6). Advertisement Buchnik will also compete in the girls' doubles tournament; her first match there will be Monday at the earliest. 'If things had gone better lately, maybe I would take pride [in today's match],' Buchnik said a few minutes after walking off the court. 'But since things haven't gone well, it feels like another loss and I'm not happy.' In Saturday's match, Buchnik played evenly with Zhang through the first set. But with Buchnik serving to force a tiebreaker at 5-6, Zhang was able to break serve for the first time and claimed the set. The second set saw a wild swing of momentum. Zhang raced out to a 4-love lead, and it looked like the Israeli teen was about to be out of the tournament in a matter of minutes. Advertisement But then Buchnik's ground game steadied, Zhang started making errors, and suddenly it was 4-3 – and Zhang needed a medical timeout for treatment on her calf. 'For me, I don't think she was really injured, but that's part of the sport,' Buchnik said. 'I knew even if it was 4-love, that I could push a lot more, I had a lot more to give, and I could come back. 'I knew that she was getting worried, though, if she wanted to stop the match like that.' The two battled all the way into a tiebreak, and there Zhang went up 6-3. But Buchnik saved three match points – helped by a crowd that had grown steadily and was supporting her – before finally succumbing. Advertisement Buchnik's parents, Golan and Lilach, looked on with pride as their daughter competed. 'We always enjoy seeing her playing, and are so proud of her,' Lilach said. 'Always a pleasure seeing her.' Leaving Dudi Sela to train at Rafael Nadal for a week Buchnik has seen her tennis level rise significantly over the past year. Last summer, she made the decision to leave the Dudi Sela Academy and train for a week at the prestigious Rafael Nadal Academy. She loved the enormous number of coaches and staff there, and the setting in Manacor, Mallorca, Spain, where Nadal grew up. 'It's amazing because they have a coach for you for absolutely everything,' Buchnik said. 'A swing coach, a forehand coach, a mental coach, a physio—everything you could want.' Advertisement After a week there, Buchnik, from Tel Aviv, decided she wanted to stay – and the decision has done wonders for her tennis. (She is coached there by Miguel Fragoso and Polina Radeva.) 'There are so many great players there, so it helps training with them,' Buchnik said. 'I think I have definitely improved.' The Buchniks have been traveling to major tournaments with Mika for a long time, even going to Australia for this year's Australian Open. 'They came all that way and I lost [in the] first round in singles and doubles,' Buchnik said with a laugh. 'I felt so bad. But they've been so incredible and supportive.' Advertisement Also in attendance at the Wimbledon match were a host of US college coaches, hoping to get Buchnik into their program. The University of Tennessee, Texas A&M, and the University of Virginia all had coaches watching her play. But she's not sure if that's the next path for her. 'I still need to think about it – maybe go to college, maybe go back to the Academy,' Buchnik said. 'I have a lot of options, so I'm just not sure.' Whatever path she chooses, this won't be the last time the tennis world hears from Mika Buchnik. Not even close.
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Tennis starlet Daniela Piani intent on learning everything from Wimbledon
By Mohamed Hamza at Wimbledon Hull tennis starlet Daniela Piani admitted she is intent on absorbing as much as she can from her last-ever Wimbledon as a junior. The 18-year-old is competed in the girls' singles draw for the final time of her nascent career after a 7-5 6-4 defeat to Vendula Valdmannova but remains in doubles contention, where she is joining forces with good friend Brooke Black. Advertisement And with the countdown on her time in the junior circuit already begun, Piani plans to live every moment to the fullest. 'Playing at Wimbledon is completely different to every tournament,' said Piani. 'I'm grateful to be able to play. It's my last junior tournament so honestly I was hoping to give it my all and leave it out on the court and I did that. 'I could've played a little bit better but you're not going to play perfect tennis all the time. I'm just going to enjoy every moment and I was super happy that I was given the chance to play. 'I'm just trying to enjoy being on the court. 'I've got my technical stuff that I can still work on but just being able to give it my all and not let anything get to me that's outside my control. Advertisement 'It's great when you come here, no matter what point you are in a match, the crowd are always behind you.' Piani is next in action on Tuesday, where she and Black take on Czech sisters Alena and Jana Kovackova. 'I'm super excited,' added Piani. 'Me and Brooke have played loads of times together and doubles is really fun, even more so with a home crowd. I enjoy playing it and I'm super excited for it.' For the latest action on the British summer grass court season, check out the LTA website
