Lleyton Hewitt's son Cruz Hewitt gets golden opportunity to train with World No.1 Jannik Sinner before Australian Open Qualifying

Cruz Hewitt will certainly feel more ready to tackle Australian Open qualifying which begins on Monday 6 January after practicing with World No.1 Jannik Sinner on Saturday in Melbourne.

Hewitt will hope to emulate his father and make Rod Laver Arena his own but that will likely come in due time with the 16-year-old making his way in the sport as opposed to hitting the heights of Sinner and co as of yet.

But it's also evidence that Sinner who will not play any warm-ups has touched down ready to play in the Australian Open. He decided against playing the United Cup with Jasmine Paolini and Flavio Cobolli instead anchoring their efforts to a latter stage loss to Czech Republic.

While for Cruz, it is a far cry also rom losing last week in Canberra Challenger in qualifying, a tournament that was won in the end by Joao Fonseca continuing his incredible tear onto the senior ranks. He ended up winning the Next Gen Finals in an emphatic week. But Hewitt didn't get near him as he lost in the first round of qualifying.

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Now though given his status, he gets the chance to gleam more from the current best in the world in Sinner who will find out his draw fate next Thursday.

'It is what it is. But I don't really mind,' he said about the comparisons drawn to his father. 'It just drives me to be better.'

'I like to bring the energy,' he said on his game style. And (to) serve - I love hitting forehands as well. I love Ben Shelton and I love (now-retired) Dominic Thiem.'

So to play with someone as all action as Sinner will certainly peak the appetite of the rising star who will play Australian Open Qualifying next week.

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