Simona Halep and Cruz Hewitt Receive Australian Open Qualifying Wild Cards

Simona Halep and Cruz Hewitt Receive Australian Open Qualifying Wild Cards

The Australian Open has announced its list of wild card recipients for the 2025 qualifying tournament, featuring some high-profile names in both the men’s and women’s categories. Among the most notable names awarded wild cards are Simona Halep, the former world No. 1 and Grand Slam champion, and Cruz Hewitt, the son of Australian tennis legend Lleyton Hewitt.

Simona Halep, the former Roland Garros and Wimbledon champion, is making her return to the Australian Open after a lengthy break from the sport. Halep, whose comeback has been marred by a doping violation and a series of injury setbacks, has been ranked 877th in the world as of 2024. Halep played only five matches in the year, securing just one win at the WTA 125 event in Hong Kong against Anna Blinkova. Prior to her limited appearances in 2024, her last tournament was the 2022 US Open, and her return to the 2024 Miami Open marked the first steps in what she hopes will be a successful comeback.

Reflecting on her return to Australia, Halep shared her excitement: “The thought of returning to Australia after three years is exciting, and I’m very grateful to the tournament for this opportunity. I have been working hard to get ready for the 2025 season. The Australian Open has provided me with some of the best moments in my career, so I can’t wait to be back in Melbourne and playing in front of the Aussie fans.” Halep has experienced considerable success in Australia, reaching the Australian Open final in 2018, where she narrowly lost to Caroline Wozniacki. She has reached the quarterfinals or better in Melbourne on four other occasions and has been a consistent presence in Grand Slam finals, having reached five in total.

On the men’s side, a less experienced but equally intriguing name stands out: Cruz Hewitt, the 16-year-old son of Lleyton Hewitt. Lleyton Hewitt, a two-time Grand Slam champion and former world No. 1, is an iconic figure in Australian tennis. Cruz, who is ranked 1,264th on the ATP tour, is attempting to follow in his father’s footsteps. Though he has yet to play an ATP-level match, Cruz has gained experience in the ITF and ATP Challenger Tour in late 2024, where he played five events and finished with a 4-5 record. His best win came in Sydney, where he triumphed over Makoto Ochi, ranked 616th, in a hard-fought three-set match, 6-2, 0-6, 7-6 (4). Cruz’s wild card entry into the Australian Open qualifying tournament is a major milestone in his early tennis career and brings attention to the potential for a new tennis star from the Hewitt family.

Other notable wild card entries into the Australian Open qualifying tournament include Alycia Parks, ranked 82nd, who just made the cut-off in December 2024, as well as Sara Errani, the 2012 Roland Garros finalist; Martina Trevisan, the 2022 Roland Garros semifinalist; and Christopher Eubanks, the 2023 Wimbledon quarterfinalist. Among the men, other wild card recipients include Daniel Evans, ranked 21st in the world in August 2023, and Cristian Garin, among others.

The Australian Open qualifying tournament will begin on January 9, 2025, and 16 men and 16 women will qualify to make it into the main draw. With players like Simona Halep making a comeback and Cruz Hewitt taking his first steps in the major tournaments, the qualifying tournament promises to be a highly anticipated event as both experienced players and newcomers look to secure their spot in the prestigious Grand Slam.