Cruz Hewitt Set to Face Alex De Minaur – Straight Sets News Summary:

- Alex de Minaur defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 in the Washington Open first round, snapping a run of 12 losses in 13 meetings.

- The world No.1 Aussie will now face 17-year-old Cruz Hewitt, son of Lleyton Hewitt, in a blockbuster second-round showdown.

- Cruz Hewitt claimed his maiden ATP Tour victory in his debut match, downing American Marcos Giron 6-3, 6-4.

Demon Breaks the Tsitsipas Hoodoo

Having lost 12 of his last 13 matches against the Greek, de Minaur bucked the trend in a scrappy three-set battle, prevailing 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 in just under two hours.

Tsitsipas looked in control early, breaking to lead 4-2 in the opening set, before the top seed rattled off four straight games to snatch it. 

The Greek levelled things in the second, but de Minaur's trademark defensive grit shone through in the decider.

It was the Demon's first competitive hit-out since a disappointing Wimbledon exit – and his first as a married man, following his wedding to British star Katie Boulter and a 13-day honeymoon in Portofino.

"I'm glad that I was able to find a way in a tricky match. It wasn't pretty tennis, but I did just enough to get over the line, and I'm happy with that," de Minaur said post-match.

"In the past, I didn't serve the best when I played him. Today I changed it up a little bit and it ended up working out for me."

The clash had been pushed back 24 hours after heavy rain hammered the US capital.

Cruz Hewitt Announces Himself on the ATP Tour

The next chapter is one for the tennis history books. De Minaur will face 17-year-old Cruz Hewitt on Friday morning (AEST) – the son of Aussie icon Lleyton Hewitt, who has mentored the Demon for much of his career.

The pair are regular hitting partners, and de Minaur has watched Cruz grow up courtside for years.

Cruz booked his spot in round two with a maiden ATP Tour victory, defeating American world No.80 Marcos Giron 6-3, 6-4 in his tour-level debut. 

The teen celebrated with dad Lleyton's trademark "C'mon!" fist pump, and the result will rocket him from outside the top-600 into the top-400 rankings.

"I am really happy with how I competed today. I came out and started pretty well and I am thrilled to get through to the next round," Hewitt said.

His path to the main draw was unconventional – granted a wildcard into qualifying, he progressed after both Dušan Lajović and Zachary Svajda retired injured while Cruz held the ascendency.

Lleyton's Simple Instruction

The advice from Australia's former world No.1? Keep it simple.

"(He told me) mainly to enjoy it because it was my first tour-level match, to take every point one-by-one, to enjoy the atmosphere and the crowd, and that's what I did," Cruz said.

For reaching the second round, Hewitt will bank just under $52,000 – and a shot at the Aussie No.1 he's known his entire life.