Cruz Hewitt — 17-Year-Old Tennis Phenom — Chats Up Roger Federer’s Daughter at US Open
The 2026 US Open has produced plenty of memorable moments on the court, but one of the most talked-about scenes away from the action involved two teenagers whose surnames are already deeply woven into tennis history.
Cruz Hewitt, the 17-year-old son of Australian tennis great Lleyton Hewitt, was spotted spending time with Myla Rose Federer, the teenage daughter of Swiss legend Roger Federer, during Monday night’s action at Flushing Meadows.
The pair were photographed sitting together in the stands as they watched the evening session at Arthur Ashe Stadium. They appeared relaxed in each other’s company, chatting, smiling and looking at their phones together during the match. The images quickly attracted attention because of the famous tennis families they represent. (New York Post)
While some headlines have described the interaction as flirting or suggested that a romance could be developing, there is no confirmation from either teenager that they are dating. What the public images do show is a comfortable friendship between two young people who have grown up around the sport and have known each other for years.
A Meeting of Two Tennis Dynasties
Few sporting families can match the combined history represented by Hewitt and Federer.
Lleyton Hewitt became one of Australia’s most celebrated tennis players, reaching world No. 1 and winning two Grand Slam singles titles. Roger Federer, meanwhile, established himself as one of the greatest players in tennis history, collecting 20 Grand Slam singles championships and spending more than 300 weeks at the top of the ATP rankings.
Their careers overlapped during one of the strongest eras in men’s tennis. Hewitt and Federer faced each other numerous times, creating one of the sport’s memorable rivalries.
Now, years after those battles ended, the next generation of the two families is attracting attention.
Cruz has inherited his father’s passion for tennis and has rapidly begun building a reputation of his own. Rather than simply being known as Lleyton Hewitt’s son, he is increasingly being judged on what he can accomplish with a racket in his own hands.
That transition became particularly noticeable during 2026.
Cruz’s Breakthrough Year
Cruz Hewitt has already enjoyed several major milestones at an age when most young players are still trying to establish themselves on the junior circuit.
In July, he reached the Wimbledon boys’ singles final, a remarkable run that demonstrated his potential on one of tennis’s biggest stages. Although he ultimately finished runner-up, Hewitt said afterward that the experience had taught him important lessons and showed him how well he could play on grass. (Tennis Australia)
His progress continued when he moved toward the professional men’s circuit.
At the Mubadala Citi DC Open in Washington, Hewitt received a wild card into qualifying and eventually made his way into the main draw. He then defeated American Marcos Giron 6-3, 6-4 to record his first ATP Tour victory.
The ATP noted that Hewitt became the youngest player to win a match at the Washington tournament since Kei Nishikori in 2007. (ATP Tour)
That victory was significant not simply because of the result, but because it demonstrated that Hewitt could compete successfully against established professional opposition.
For a teenager carrying one of Australian tennis’s most recognizable surnames, that is no small achievement.
Myla Federer Steps Into the Spotlight
Myla Rose Federer, meanwhile, has largely grown up away from the intense media spotlight that followed her famous father throughout his playing career.
She is one of Roger and Mirka Federer’s four children and has a twin sister, Charlene. The twins have occasionally appeared at major tournaments alongside their family, giving tennis fans glimpses of the next generation of the Federer family.
At the 2026 US Open, the Federer children were present as their father returned to New York for a special appearance connected with his International Tennis Hall of Fame recognition and other activities surrounding the tournament.
Myla and Charlene were also seen around the tournament alongside their younger brothers.
Cruz’s presence added another familiar tennis surname to the group.
The US Open Moment
During Monday night’s session, Cruz and Myla were photographed sitting side by side while watching Ben Shelton’s first-round match against Tallon Griekspoor.
The teenagers appeared to be enjoying themselves. They exchanged smiles, talked and looked at something on their phones. At various points, they leaned toward each other while chatting.
Those simple interactions were enough to generate considerable attention online.
It is easy to understand why.
When two teenagers from families that have collectively contributed decades of history to professional tennis are seen together at one of the sport’s biggest tournaments, fans naturally become curious.
But it is important to distinguish what the photographs actually establish from the speculation surrounding them.
The pictures show two friends spending time together. They do not, by themselves, establish that the pair are romantically involved.
They Have Been Seen Together Before
The US Open appearance was not an isolated meeting.
Cruz has reportedly spent time with Myla and Charlene at other major tennis events during 2026. The group was spotted at the Australian Open in January, while Cruz was also seen with the Federer twins around Wimbledon.
Tennis Australia reported that the Federer twins congratulated Hewitt after his Wimbledon semifinal victory, another indication of the friendship between the young players and the Federer family. (Tennis Australia)
That history makes the US Open photographs look less like a sudden celebrity encounter and more like another chapter in a friendship that has developed naturally around the tennis circuit.
Both families have spent years moving through the same sporting world. Their parents competed against one another, and their children have grown up with tennis as an important part of everyday life.
More Than a Famous Surname
For Cruz, however, the biggest story of 2026 remains his tennis.
Being the son of Lleyton Hewitt comes with enormous advantages, including access to experience and knowledge that few young players receive. But it also creates expectations.
Every tournament result can be viewed through the lens of his father’s career.
Lleyton became world No. 1 as a young man and won the US Open in 2001 and Wimbledon in 2002. Cruz is therefore attempting to establish his own identity while carrying a surname that tennis fans immediately recognize.
His recent results suggest he is beginning to do exactly that.
His first ATP Tour victory in Washington was particularly important because it moved him from promising junior prospect toward genuine professional contender.
The challenge now is consistency.
A single breakthrough victory can generate headlines, but becoming a top professional requires years of physical development, tactical improvement, mental resilience and dedication.
Cruz appears to understand that.
His comments following the Wimbledon final emphasized learning from difficult experiences rather than dwelling on the disappointment of losing. (Tennis Australia)
A New Generation Around the Sport
The images from Flushing Meadows also symbolize something larger happening in tennis.
The children of former champions are now old enough to become competitors, spectators and personalities in their own right.
Cruz Hewitt represents one side of that generational transition. Myla and Charlene Federer represent another.
They grew up watching their parents dominate headlines. Now they are old enough to experience major tournaments from a different perspective.
For Cruz, that means competing.
For the Federer children, it means supporting their family, watching matches and becoming increasingly familiar faces at major tennis events.
Their friendship provides an intriguing connection between two extraordinary tennis legacies.
What Comes Next for Cruz?
The attention surrounding Cruz’s personal life may be unavoidable, but his professional ambitions remain the more significant story.
The teenager has already indicated a desire to focus increasingly on the men’s professional circuit after his impressive Wimbledon junior campaign. His early ATP success suggests that the decision could pay dividends.
There is still a long road ahead.
Many highly rated teenagers struggle when they make the difficult transition from junior tennis to the senior game. The competition is deeper, opponents are stronger and the physical demands are considerably greater.
Cruz will therefore have to continue developing without allowing expectations to become a burden.
His father understands that better than most.
Lleyton Hewitt experienced the pressures of becoming a world-class player while still very young. He knows that talent can open the door, but discipline and perseverance determine how far someone ultimately travels through it.
A Night That Captured Attention
For now, though, the US Open images are simply another snapshot of two teenagers enjoying one of tennis’s biggest occasions.
Cruz Hewitt and Myla Federer were surrounded by the history of their families while watching a new generation of players compete under the lights at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The symbolism was difficult for tennis fans to miss.
Two children of former world No. 1 players, whose fathers once competed against each other at the highest level, were now sitting together as spectators.
Whether their friendship eventually becomes something more is something only Cruz and Myla could answer.
For the moment, the safest conclusion is also the simplest: they appear to be close friends who enjoy spending time together, and their shared connection to tennis makes their friendship particularly fascinating to fans.
Meanwhile, Cruz’s own story continues to develop.
At just 17, he has already reached a Wimbledon junior final and won an ATP Tour match against an established opponent. Those achievements suggest that his most important headlines may ultimately have nothing to do with whom he sits beside in the stands.
They may come from what he does on the court.
And if his breakthrough year is any indication, tennis fans may be hearing the name Cruz Hewitt for many years to come.
