July 13, 2026 – 00:34 Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. TOTOTO London: Cruz Hewitt will have to wait a little longer to join his father as Wimbledon champion. The 17-year-old rising star, who grew up facing Australia as a young boy
London: Cruz Hewitt will have to wait a little longer to join his father as Wimbledon champion.
The 17-year-old rising star, who grew up facing Australia as a young boy following Lleyton in his final days as a player, fell woefully short in the men’s singles final on Sunday, losing 4-6, 6-4, 7-5 to American qualifier Jordan Lee.
Hewitt eliminated four seeded opponents in a row on her way to the final and had a break point to take a 4-1 lead in the deciding set on Wimbledon’s No. 1 court, but she could not deny her impressive 16-year-old opponent.
He had not lost a set in his five wins this week as he attempted to become Australia’s first men’s winner at a grass-court Grand Slam since Luke Saville in 2011. Ash Barty won the women’s title that same year.
Instead, Hewitt had to settle for second place, as Alex de Minaur did in 2016.
“It was a very special week for me. I think I played good tennis too,” Hewitt said.
“I was happy with my level, and getting to the final and being able to play on this beautiful court was unreal. Obviously I grew up around this tournament, watching my dad play, and it’s been a privilege to play on any court here. Thank you all for coming; it’s been a really good environment.”
Junior players, even in a final, wouldn’t normally come close to filling a 12,000-plus capacity stadium, but there’s nothing typical about a teenager in Hewitt’s situation whose father won two men’s Grand Slam titles and was the youngest world number one until Carlos Alcaraz broke that record.
International interest in Hewitt’s progress grew exponentially as the tournament progressed.
Understandably, Hewitt showed more nerves than in her previous matches, including a stumble while trying to serve the first set at 5-2. That coincided with Lee raising his level significantly.
Hewitt’s father cut a relaxed figure in his son’s players’ box, alongside former Davis Cup player and assistant Jaymon Crabb, coach Wayne Arthurs, mother Bec, sister Ava, agent Jedd Zetzer and Davis Cup team manager Kathryn Oyeniyi.
But Lleyton knew when he was needed. Serving for the set for the second time, Hewitt reached 40-15 – and Lleyton jumped out of his chair to cheer on his son.
A point later, he was on top again, pumping his fist like in his heyday, as Hewitt secured a one-set lead.
The second set began as the latter stages of the first ended, with Lee increasingly winning his share, or more, of the points. The American gave Hewitt a different look, placing himself further back in the rest to mitigate the impact of the serve that took him to the final.
There was some drama in the second game of the second set, when – with Hewitt facing break point – he desperately chased a ball, but didn’t get there in time.
A review, requested by Hewitt, confirmed the double bounce.
The young Australian recovered the break, but lost it again with a double fault. Lee also had consecutive set points on Hewitt’s serve at 3-5, only for the son of a bitch to get out of trouble. Then it was Lee’s turn to show some fragility, making some stray mistakes and failing to achieve what was established.
Twice, Hewitt scored points for five in total, but Lee produced a superb backhand winner after a passionate exchange from the baseline to earn a fourth set point.
Hewitt’s backhand subsequently missed, but only after one of Lee’s shots barely reached the end of the line.
Losing the set presented a new challenge that Hewitt had not faced this week. His response was perfect and another illustration of how far he has come. Lee fell behind 0-40, then saved a break point before the Australian delivered a tremendous backhand that would never return.
Both Arthurs and Lleyton instantly stood up to give instructions to Hewitt at that moment.
Hewitt almost took a safety lead at 3-1, but Lee fought hard to hold on and stay in touch, which soon became critical.
A lucky net rope in the eighth game went Lee’s way and squeezed Hewitt, who couldn’t get the ball back over the net. On break point, Hewitt hit a backhand into the net to leave the final set locked at four.
The tension suddenly spiked and Hewitt made his move again, upping the ante with a crosscourt forehand to overpower the American and earn his own break point. But Lee escaped once again to take his first lead in the final set.
They traded holds of serve, but a missed backhand from Hewitt at 5-6 was the beginning of the end. A double fault followed, after which Hewitt sought advice from his father, but was soon 0-40 down, then saw Lee hit a magnificent backhand to claim the title.
Marc McGowan traveled to London with the support of Tennis Australia.
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