Alex de Minaur beats Cruz Hewitt, reaches Open quarters

Top seed Alex de Minaur advanced to the quarterfinals of the Washington Open on Thursday, July 30, after a straight-sets victory over 17-year-old compatriot Cruz Hewitt in a match defined by its emotional subtext as much as its on-court result. The defending champion, ranked sixth in the world, won 6-2, -3 in 61 minutes on Stadium Court, ending the breakout run of the teenage son of former world No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt.

The encounter, a second-round clash, pitted close friends and frequent practice partners against each other. De Minaur, 27, has a long-standing, almost familial bond with the Hewitt family, having spent holidays together and served as a mentor to Cruz, who has described him as "like my older brother." That dynamic made for a unique atmosphere. "It was definitely weird," de Minaur said after the match. "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."

Despite the off-court connection, de Minaur was clinical in his performance. He raced to a 5-0 lead in the opening set, capitalizing on early errors from the younger player. Hewitt, a Wimbledon boys' finalist last month who had won his...