Tennis: De Minaur wins 'Australian civil war,' overpowering legend's teenage son

Top seed Alex de Minaur showcased his dominance at the Washington Open, defeating Cruz Hewitt, the 17-year-old son of Australian tennis legend Lleyton Hewitt, in a compelling "Australian civil war" match. De Minaur, the defending champion, secured a swift victory with a 6-2, 6-3 scoreline in just 61 minutes, advancing to the quarterfinals of the ATP 500 event.

The match unfolded in front of a captivated audience, including Lleyton Hewitt himself, who watched from the stands as his son faced off against a player he has known since childhood. De Minaur, who recently defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas, utilized an aggressive net-rushing strategy against the younger Hewitt, whom he considers like a brother.

“

It feels really strange. I knew I would play him on the tour one day, but I didn't expect it to be this week.

"It feels really strange. I knew I would play him on the tour one day, but I didn't expect it to be this week," de Minaur commented after the match. "It feels great. Thinking about everything before, seeing those great photos we took together, and our respective growth journeys, it feels incredible. I'm happy to play against him across the net, and I believe we will have many more opportunities to play each other in the coming years."

Following his retirement, Lleyton Hewitt has served as captain for the Australian Davis Cup and United Cup teams, with de Minaur being a regular member. The rising Cruz Hewitt also looks up to de Minaur as an older brother. Their first professional encounter saw a warm embrace at the net, earning applause from the spectators. De Minaur's next opponent will be American Brandon Nakashima.

“

It feels great. Thinking about everything before, seeing those great photos we took together, and our respective growth journeys, it feels incredible. I'm happy to play against him across the net, and I believe we will have many more opportunities to play each other in the coming years.