De Minaur Defeats Hewitt in All-Aussie Clash for Washington, DC Quarterfinal Return – Tennis Now

By Richard Pagliaro | Thursday, July 30, 2026
Picture credit score: Libéma Open

Alex de Minaur continues month-long celebration season.

Earlier this month, de Minaur wed long-time fiancé Katie Boulter.

In the present day, de Minaur streaked by an all-Aussie reunion with Cruz Hewitt.

In a match of mentor vs. protegee, de Minaur defeated the 17-year-old Hewitt, son of Corridor of Famer Lleyton Hewitt, 6-2, 6-3 to return to the Mubadala Citi Open quarterfinals.

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“Yeah, clearly I’ve identified Cruz for the higher a part of ten years. We’ve hit with one another many, many occasions,” de Minaur mentioned. “So going into the match I felt like we each knew one another’s video games fairly effectively, so it made it type of like an fascinating battle of who was going to
execute higher.

“I’m glad I managed the scenario and the feelings effectively and I used to be capable of type of get off to begin and, you realize, get a win over somebody who I’m positive I’m going to be taking part in much more.”

Ultimately, the chums who’ve spent a lot observe courtroom time shared smiles and an embrace after their first professional assembly.

“Yeah, that was a really particular match, particular second I believe for each of us,” Cruz Hewitt mentioned. “I’ve appeared as much as him my entire life just about, seen him play so many occasions, practiced collectively.

“As I mentioned, he’s like my brother, so it was particular to share the courtroom, and I want him all the perfect for the remainder of the event.”

Defending-champion de Minaur scored his seventh straight Washington, DC victory to arrange a compelling quarterfinal vs. American Brandon Nakashima.

In as we speak’s opening stadium match, Nakashima received 17 of 21 journeys to web toppling seventh-seeded Jakub Mensik 7-6(5), 3-6, 6-4.

The 24-year-old Nakashima, who has reached back-to-back DC quarterfinals, owns a 2-1 document vs. de Minaur, together with a 7-5, 6-3 quarterfinal conquest on the grass of Queen’s Membership in London final month.

De Minaur carried a 13-2 document as a event high seed onto courtroom for this all-Aussie conflict that noticed each the veteran and {the teenager} high-five Washington, DC followers in the course of the stroll on.

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Wimbledon boys’ finalist Hewitt has identified de Minaur since he was a baby and calls him “like an older brother.” De Minaur wasted no time making use of strain towards his someday observe accomplice.

Newlywed de Minaur received the toss, elected to obtain and instantly put {the teenager} beneath strain. Committing a double fault and a few forehand errors, Hewitt gifted the opening-break to the US Open quarterfinalist. De Minaur confirmed the break at love for 2-0.

Together with his father, former No. 1 and 2004 Washington, DC champion Lleyton Hewitt, watching on clad in a black Yonex baseball cap, Cruz Hewitt missed a backhand down the road to face one other break level. Hewitt over-hit a forehand as de Minaur took a 3-0 double-break lead simply 9 minutes into the match.

Clear mixtures from de Minaur helped him drain first-set errors from DC debutant Hewitt, who prevailed in a pair of retirements taking part in by qualifying to succeed in the primary draw.

Dashing left, Hewitt defended  a deep backhand and drew the error breaking again to get on the board at 1-5. Hewitt thumped a 124 ace down the T holding at 15 for 2-5.

De Minaur, who hit eight winners within the 28-minute opener, delivered a collection of flat strikes to grab a one-set lead. 

The lanky Hewitt confirmed some sting off each wings and strikes effectively, however the veteran de Minaur, a much more skilled and polished participant, was profitable the longer baseline exchanges all through. De Minaur broke at 15 for a 2-1 benefit and consolidated for a 3-1 second-set lead.

On his third match level, de Minaur drew a ballooned forehand past the baseline breaking to seal a 6-2, 6-3 win in 61 minutes.

The Aussie mates shared an embrace at web. De Minaur leads all ATP gamers in ATP 500 stage victories since 2023 with a 61-21 mark at 500-level occasions in that span.

As a six-year-old, Cruz Hewitt as soon as hit with 20-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer.

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Primarily based on his efficiency in Washington, DC, granted he benefitted from a few retirements, Cruz Hewitt, who has worn a relaxed smile all through his professional break-out occasion, appears to be like like he could be an impactful participant.

The defending champion de Minaur moved into the quarterfinals and urged endurance because the younger and gifted Hewitt develops his sport.

“Look, I’ve spent lots of time with Cruz, and I believe he’s at all times been an ideal child,” de Minaur mentioned. “He’s cherished tennis, and I can’t say this sufficient, the best way he’s dealing with the highlight, the strain, the expectations of being who he’s.

“Even after every week like this one, proper, there’s going to be much more strain and expectation, however I believe the entire type of world ought to let him develop at his personal tempo, proper? It takes time.”