3 sets decide Cruz Hewitt’s Wimbledon final thriller

Cruz Hewitt fell narrowly short in the Wimbledon boys’ singles final in London on Sunday, losing 4-6, 6-4, 7-5 to American qualifier Jordan Lee. The 17-year-old Australian led by a set and reached 4-2 in the decider, but Lee produced a composed comeback to claim the title on No.1 Court.

The Full Story

Hewitt entered the championship match without dropping a set across five victories and after defeating four seeded opponents in succession. His run had already made him the first Australian boy to reach the Wimbledon final since Alex de Minaur in 2016, while victory would have delivered Australia’s first boys’ title at the tournament since Luke Saville in 2011.

The Sydney teenager started strongly against Lee, taking the opening set 6-4 after serving for it twice. Lee adjusted his return position, stood further behind the baseline and began reducing the impact of Hewitt’s serve. That change helped the 16-year-old American take the second set by the same score and forced Hewitt into his first three-set match of the tournament.

Hewitt responded immediately in the decider, breaking serve and moving ahead 4-2. He also had an earlier break point that could have taken him to 4-1, but Lee stayed within reach and recovered the break in the eighth game. With Hewitt serving at 5-6, a backhand error and his ninth double fault left him under pressure before Lee sealed the match with a backhand winner.

The final lasted a little more than two hours and was played before a large crowd on No.1 Court. Hewitt received a standing ovation while collecting the runner-up trophy and described the tournament as a special week in which he was pleased with the level of tennis he produced.

The Main Players

Hewitt is ranked No.606 on the men’s tour and has been competing in lower-level professional events while continuing his junior career. His father, former world No.1 and 2002 Wimbledon men’s champion Lleyton Hewitt, watched from the player box alongside Cruz’s family and coaching team.

Lee entered the event as a qualifier and, at 16, was the youngest player in the boys’ draw. He recovered from losing the first set and from a 4-2 deficit in the third, showing the patience to extend rallies and the confidence to attack with his forehand and backhand as the match tightened.

Hewitt said after the match that he had grown up around Wimbledon watching his father compete there. He added that playing on the tournament’s show courts had been a privilege and congratulated Lee after what he called a great battle.

Key Statistics

• Lee won the final 4-6, 6-4, 7-5.
• Hewitt won five matches on the way to the final without losing a set.
• He defeated four consecutive seeded opponents before facing Lee.
• The Australian led 4-2 in the deciding set.
• Hewitt made nine double faults, including one in the final game.
• The final lasted about two hours.

What This Means

The result denied Hewitt a family double at Wimbledon 24 years after his father won the men’s championship, but the week still marked the biggest junior result of his career. Before this tournament, he had never progressed beyond the second round of a junior grand slam.

For Australian tennis followers, the performance offered a clear measure of Hewitt’s progress rather than simply another chapter in the comparison with his father. He handled five wins, a packed stadium and a demanding three-set final, while showing that his serve and attacking game can trouble leading players of his age.

De Minaur’s path also provides useful perspective. He lost the Wimbledon boys’ final in 2016 and later rose into the world’s top six, showing that a junior runner-up finish can still be an important step towards a successful professional career.

What to Expect

Hewitt said he would review his schedule with his team before deciding where he plays next. He indicated that he may not return to junior boys’ competition and wants to keep building his ranking through professional tournaments.

His next major target is closer to home: earning enough progress to be considered for an Australian Open main-draw wildcard in January. Hewitt has also set a goal of reaching the world’s top 300 by the end of the year, although no wildcard decision or confirmed tournament schedule has been announced.