Cruz Hewitt bags first ATP Tour win at Mubadala DC Open, Washington; youngest DC Open winner since Nishikori Kei 2007

Mubadala DC Open 2026: Cruz Hewitt, son of former major champion Lleyton, bags first ATP Tour win

The 17-year-old Aussie celebrated his memorable match victory at the Washington tournament where his father won the men’s singles title more than two decades ago.

Australian tennis player Cruz Hewitt , son of former World No.1 and three-time Olympian Lleyton Hewitt , clinched his first ATP Tour win at the Mubadala DC Open on Tuesday (28 July).

The 17-year-old defeated fellow qualifier Marcos Giron of the United States 6-3, 6-4 in a first-round match of his main singles draw debut.

With the victory, he became the youngest match winner at the tournament since Japan’s Nishikori Kei in 2007.

Cruz’s father Lleyton won the Washington tournament in 2004.

“It’s pretty surreal to win here,” Cruz said, according to the ATP Tour .

“Obviously I saw my dad play here. I came to his last tournament I remember. There are so many memories of that. To make it to round two, it’s very special.”

Cruz celebrated his victory copying a famous celebration from his father Lleyton - the ‘vicht’, the gesture of pointing four fingers at your own forehead.

“He just always did it and when I was little I’ve just always seen it,” the teen said. “It’s cool to be able to do that now because obviously my dad has been a huge part of where I am today.”

Lleyton held the No.1 ATP ranking for 80 weeks, and was a two-time Grand Slam champion, winning the men’s singles title at the 2001 US Open and Wimbledon 2002.

Now 45 years old, he retired from playing singles in 2016.