Cruz Hewitt: Lleyton Hewitt’s son shows he is rising in height and stature at Newcombe Awards

When asked about the weight of expectations that accompany his rise through Australian tennis, Cruz Hewitt just smiles and shrugs.

The tall, lanky 15-year-old son of Wimbledon and US Open champion Lleyton is making his name on the junior circuit, hitting with idols like Alex de Minaur and dreaming of big things.

Naturally the comparisons to father and Australian Davis Cup captain Lleyton have come and will keep on coming.

But Cruz is taking it all in his stride.

“It is what it is. But I don’t really mind,” he said at Monday night’s Newcombe Medal, where he was nominated for male junior athlete of the year.

“It just drives me to be better.”

His father notes of the inevitable comparisons: “Oh, they’ve already been there - ever since he picked up a racquet.

“He’s just got to enjoy it as much as possible and make it fun. He’s been doing great so far.”

Though Cruz would have been seven when his father retired, he is familiar with Lleyton’s highlights.

“I’ve seen a few of them. Just some of the big matches,” he said.

“I think we have a bit of a different game style.”

There is no escaping the obvious difference: height.

Cruz, who will be 16 on Wednesday, already towers over his father and could have more growth spurts to come.

“It’s hard to know how he’ll end up,” Lleyton admits.

“But he’s a good shot maker. He’s got a little bit more firepower than probably I did, but, yeah, it’s a long journey, absolutely.”

Cruz already knows the way he wants to play.

“I like to bring the energy,” he said.

“And (to) serve - I love hitting forehands as well.”

“I love Ben Shelton and I love (now-retired) Dominic Thiem.”

Cruz is currently the junior world No.107, but got as high as No.99 in October.

He won two ITF junior titles earlier this year and claimed his first professional win in August.

The younger Hewitt will continue working his way through the junior ranks, including at Traralgon, then Melbourne Park, after a first-round exit on his junior Open debut this year.

“The crowd was so good. The support was amazing,” he said.

“I was a bit sad I didn’t get the win, but it was still a great experience, and definitely I learned a lot, so I’m excited to get back out there next year.”

And his father will keep stressing patience - noting few youngsters - bar the best, like Carlos Alcaraz - can handle best-of-five sets tennis against grown men.

“It’s getting harder and harder to jump onto the men’s tour at such a young age and to make that transition,” Lleyton Hewitt said.

“So he’s just got to enjoy it. And it’s stepping stones, it’s about always trying to keep improving.”