Cruz Hewitt, son of the former world no. 1, Lleyton, kicked off the season at the Canberra Challenger. The 16-year-old fell in the first qualifying round to Tracy Austin's son, Brandon Holt, 7-6, 6-1 in an hour and 28 minutes.
The home player made a reliable start, delivering two breaks and forging a 5-1 advantage. Brandon denied a set point in game ten on his serve and three more in the tie break before prevailing 11-9. Holt gained a boost and broke the young gun's resistance in set number two.
Cruz served at only 53%. He played against six break points and experienced four breaks. Brandon struggled behind the initial shot in the first set, playing against six break points and defending four.
The American took charge in the second set, dropping ten points in seven games and sailing over the top. The Aussie made a push on the return in the second game of the encounter. He converted a third break point after the rival's forehand error for an early break and 2-0.
Holt pulled the break back in game three after Hewitt's backhand error. Hereturnedto the positive side and closedthe fourth game with a service winner for 2-2. A teenager grabbed the fifth game with a forehand down the line winner and made a push on the return in the next one.
Cruz passed Brandon at the net with a forehand crosscourt winner, earning his second break and forging the advantage. The Aussie held in the seventh game, moving 5-2 up and controlling the scoreboard. The American secured the eighth game with a service winner.
He had to step in on the return at 3-5 and did that! Standing two points from taking the opener, Hewitt sprayed a forehand error and netted a forehand to drop serve and bring his rival back to the positive side. Cruz created a set point on the return at 5-4.
The youngster missed it after a loose forehand before his rival landed an ace for 5-5 and more drama. The set went into a tie break, which lasted 16 minutes. Holt missed a forehand on a set point at 6-5. Cruz had three more set points at 7-6. 8-7 and 9-8.
He squandered them and missed a routine forehand at 9-10, handing the opener to his opponent and fading from the court. Brandon held at love in the first game of the second set and secured a break in the next one to open a set and a break advantage.
Holt closed the fifth game with a forehand winner and welcomed the rival's basicbackhand error in the next one for another break and 5-1. Brandon fired a service winner in the seventh game, sealing the deal in style and moving into the second round.
