De Minaur beats teen Hewitt in Washington all-Aussie clash / Photo: Emilee Chinn - GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP
De Minaur beats teen Hewitt in Washington all-Aussie clash
A clinical Alex de Minaur defeated fellow Australian Cruz Hewitt 6-2, 6-3 on Thursday, progressing to the quarter-finals as he seeks to defend his Washington Open crown.
Top-seeded Minaur was always likely to prove too much for 17-year-old qualifier Hewitt -- son of Aussie great Lleyton Hewitt -- who had only captured his first ATP Tour victory in Tuesday's first round.
The first set threatened to become a demolition, as an efficient De Minaur repeatedly broke Hewitt for a 5-0 lead.
But Hewitt found his feet, breaking back in the sixth game as De Minaur found the net, and then held serve, before succumbing 6-2.
Cheered on by a crowd including his famous father, Hewitt started the second set brightly.
But he was broken again on his second service game, and could not reel back in De Minaur, who warmly embraced the youngster at the net after taking the match.
It was the first head-to-head ATP Tour match between the two men, who have known each other for years, with Hewitt's father captaining Australia's Davis Cup team.
"It was definitely weird," said De Minaur. "I knew I was going to play him on the Tour some day, but I didn't actually expect it to be this week.
"It was an amazing feeling. Even all the lead up, seeing all the incredible pictures that we have together and how we've both grown up.
"I'm glad I managed to get through, but I'm sure we're going to have many battles in the years to come."
De Minaur will play American Brandon Nakashima, who upset Czech seventh seed Jakub Mensik 7-6 (7/5), 3-6, 6-4 to reach the Washington quarter-finals for a second year running.
H.Vaccarello--LDdC
