Cruz Hewitt has continued his phenomenal run at SW19, losing just three games in a quarterfinal masterclass in the Wimbledon boys’ singles on Thursday.
Hewitt posted a 6-1 6-2 win over No.9 seed Dimitar Kisimov, who this year won the Australian Open boys’ doubles title with Connor Doig.
His latest win means Hewitt has won four consecutive matches without dropping a set, by far the best junior Grand Slam result of his career.
It’s the best result for an Australian in boys’ singles since Alex de Minaur advanced to the final in 2016, and comes 24 years after his father, Lleyton, won the men’s singles title as world No.1.
“I played a very good match today. Very focused. Pretty level-headed as well. Served well, but no, I'm very happy to make the semis,” Hewitt told Stan Sport.
“I think [I’m proudest of] my mentality. I think the belief as well coming in. I haven't played juniors for a while. But I feel more mature on the court coming into this tournament, and I think I'm taking one step at a time pretty well and that's what I'll continue to do.”
Hewitt sent down 10 aces among 24 winners overall while keeping his unforced errors to just 14 in the brisk 53-minute win on Court 12.
A Wimbledon semifinal might on the surface appear to be a junior result out of the blue, given it’s his first junior tournament since last year’s US Open.
Yet the 17-year-old has been accruing invaluable experience on the ITF Futures and ATP Challenger tours, including a run to the Australian Pro Tour final in Wodonga, on grass, earlier in 2026.
He also credited the work he’d done with a Tennis Australia psychologist, plus having a good team around him, for the maturity and mentality which have helped him arrive at this point.
Plus, there’s the added familiarity and experience of having spent time as a youngster at the All England Club as Lleyton Hewitt practised and competed at the storied tournament.
“[I’m] a little nervous, but it's more excitement, I feel. I'm excited to get out there tomorrow and play,” Hewitt said of his upcoming semifinal against Dutch talent Thijs Boogaard.
“Playing for a spot in the final is pretty special. So, I'm going to leave it all out there, of course.
“I have a lot of memories from growing up around my dad when he was playing here, practicing on the courts with him, picking up balls. So, it's very special that I've played well here, and it would mean a lot [to keep winning].”
No.11 seed Boogaard, like Hewitt, has been honing his game at the professional level.
In 2026 he has more than halved his ATP ranking – he currently sits at world No.525 – and created a stir at the recent ATP grasscourt event in s-Hertogenbosch, where as a local wildcard he upset Wu Yibing in round one then pushed Daniil Medvedev to a third-set tiebreak.
And like Hewitt, who has 2002 champion Lleyton Hewitt in his corner, Boogaard also has the support of a Wimbledon winner – 1996 champion and fellow Dutchman Richard Krajicek.
Just five months apart in age, Hewitt and Boogard have similar ATP rankings and records on the ITF Futures circuit in 2026.
It makes this Wimbledon boys’ semifinal a fascinating affair and, perhaps, a glimpse into the future of men’s tennis.