Australian Open 2025: Cruz Hewitt, son of former world no 1; Simona Halep get wild card entries for qualifying

Former world no1 and two-time Grand Slam champion Simona Halep has been given a wild card entry on Wednesday for the Australian Open 2025 qualifying, starting on January 12. 

In addition to Halep, Cruz Hewitt, the son of former top-ranked player Lleyton Hewitt, has also received a wild card entry for the qualifying round.

The 33-year-old Halep was runner-up in the 2018 Australian Open. Her two Grand Slams came at the 2018 French Open and Wimbledon 2019. Working her way from drug suspension, Halep, currently ranked 877th, hasn't played a single tournament since 2022.

Halep was suspended for four years back in 2022, but the Court of Arbitration for Sport reduced it to nine months in March 2024. The Romanian returned to court at the Miami Open earlier this year.

"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,” said an excited Halep.

Her last WTA event before the Miami Open was the 2022 US Open, where she crashed out in the opening round.

Who is Cruz Hewitt?

Meanwhile, Cruz is ranked outside the top 1,000. The 16-year-old entered the PIF ATP Rankings for the first time on September 9, earlier this year, and reached a career-high 1,245 in November. 

Cruz's father, Leyton Hewitt, has won two majors and made his Australian Open debut in 1997 at age 15 via a qualifying wild card.

Lleyton, who retired in 2016, was elected to the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2021 and is Australia's Davis Cup captain. 

Other men who have got wild cards for the January 6-9 qualifying event include 2023 Wimbledon quarterfinalist Chris Eubanks and former top-25 players Dan Evans and Bernard Tomic.

The women's group includes Paris Olympics doubles gold medalist and 2012 French Open singles runner-up Sara Errani and top 20 players Petra Martic and Ana Konjuh.