Tennis

Two Noteworthy Tennis Names Received Australian Open Qualifying Wildcards

Author photo
By
wendioliveros
Author photo
wendioliveros Sports Editor

Wendi Oliveros is a diehard tennis fan that is known to set her clock at ridiculous hours to watch live action especially during the Australian Open. She is known for indulging in strawberries and cream during Wimbledon and has watched the US Open live several times.

Get to know wendioliveros better
Sports Editor

Published18 Dec 2024

Disclosure
We publish independently audited content meeting strict editorial standards. Ads on our site are served by Google AdSense and are not controlled or influenced by our editorial team.
Australian Open

2018 Australian Open finalist Simona Halep and Cruz Hewitt, son of 2005 Australian Open finalist Lleyton Hewitt, headline the list of players who received qualifying wildcards for the 2025 Australian Open.

Welcome Back Simona Halep

Halep, 33, has been sidelined from the sport since late 2022.  Her last appearance at the Australian Open was in January 2022 when she advanced to the fourth round. Significant delays from her failed drug tests and injuries have taken valuable time away from her playing career in her 30s.  Fans would like to see her make a deep run in Melbourne in January.  But first, she must work her way through the qualifying rounds.  Emma Raducanu is the only player who won a Grand Slam as a qualifier at the 2021 US Open.

She is a two-time Grand Slam champion, but those wins came on the Roland Garros clay and the Wimbledon grass.  Given her issues in recent years, it will be interesting to see how the fans will receive her in Melbourne.

Halep will prepare for the Australian Open with a main draw wildcard entry at the ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand.

Australians Want Cruz Hewitt To Succeed

Cruz Hewitt, on the other hand, will be a fan favorite.  He is an Aussie.  His father Lleyton Hewitt, 43, is a tennis legend.  Lleyton is still actively with Tennis Australia as the United Cup and Davis Cup captain.  Hewitt’s son Cruz is 16 years old.  The resemblance is uncanny, including the signature backward baseball cap.