Tsitsipas Outlasts Brooksby in High-Stakes Thriller as Young Gun Cruz Hewitt Claims Dramatic Winston-Salem Upse
Tsitsipas Outlasts Brooksby in High-Stakes Thriller as Young Gun Cruz Hewitt Claims Dramatic Winston-Salem Upset
From Stefanos Tsitsipas' gritty tiebreak surge against Jenson Brooksby to 17-year-old wild card Cruz Hewitt earning a monumental three-set victory, North Carolina delivered unmatched drama ahead of Flushing Meadows.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Hard-court summer drama reached a fever pitch at the Wake Forest Tennis Center. Seventh-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas survived a grueling, high-octane physical encounter against America’s Jenson Brooksby, edging out the fan favorite 6-4, 7-6(6) to advance into the third round of the Winston-Salem Open.
While Tsitsipas was forced to unleash his absolute best tennis under heavy pressure, Australia’s 17-year-old wild card Cruz Hewitt—son of former World No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt—stole headlines of his own. Hewitt turned around a nightmare opening set against American lucky loser Sebastian Gorzny to secure a dramatic 1-6, 7-6(3), 6-4 triumph, marking his second career ATP main-draw match win.
With the US Open just days away, both matches provided a vivid look into high-stakes North Carolina tennis: brutal physical rallies, tactical cat-and-mouse baseline duels, and clutch tiebreak nerve when everything was on the line.
Match Breakdown: Stefanos Tsitsipas vs. Jenson Brooksby
First-Set Precision: Tsitsipas Strikes Early
Tsitsipas set the tone immediately with razor-sharp forehand accuracy, painting the lines early to secure a vital early break for a 4-2 lead. Brooksby, known for his relentless baseline counter-punching, tried to neutralize the Greek star’s power with deep loopers and unexpected angle changes. However, Tsitsipas brought exceptional disguise on his drop shots and backhand slice variations, taking control of the key points to claim the opening set 6-4.
The Turning Point & High-Tension Tiebreak
The second set transformed into a war of attrition. Brooksby elevated his court coverage, forcing Tsitsipas into extended baseline exchanges. In a grueling 13-minute segment mid-set, both players threw everything at each other—trading heavy forehands, delicate net touches, and lung-busting scrambles.
After a epic rally late in the second set, Tsitsipas erased a set point with a massive clutch second serve followed by a precise net volley, preventing Brooksby from pushing the contest into a deciding set.
As the set went into a tiebreak, the physical toll became obvious. Brooksby fought valiantly to erase multiple match points, but Tsitsipas stayed locked in. Clutch first serves and a final forehand winner down the line sealed the tiebreak 8-6, earning Tsitsipas a hard-fought victory in 1 hour and 35 minutes.
Young Guns: Cruz Hewitt Battles Back to Stun Sebastian Gorzny
Wild card recipient Cruz Hewitt delivered one of the most spirited performances of his young career, overcoming a nightmare start to knock out American lucky loser Sebastian Gorzny in three grueling sets: 1-6, 7-6(3), 6-4.
Early Struggles & The Second-Set Fightback
Gorzny dominated the opening set, overpowering the teenager with heavy first serves and quick one-two punch combinations. Capitalizing on Hewitt’s early double faults and nervous errors, Gorzny breezed through the first set 6-1 in under 30 minutes.
However, showing the trademark grit of his father Lleyton, Hewitt reset in the second set. Flattening out his forehand groundstrokes and stepping closer to the baseline, Hewitt produced stunning defensive recoveries to stay alive. In the second-set tiebreak, Hewitt stepped up his aggression, closing out the tiebreak 7-3 to send the crowd into a frenzy.
Deep in the third set, Hewitt sprinted end-to-end to retrieve a high lob, throwing back a crosscourt passing shot winner that drew an eruption from the North Carolina fans.
Closing Out a Career Highlight
With momentum firmly in his favor, Hewitt seized an crucial break late in the decider. Despite Gorzny fighting off multiple break points, Hewitt maintained his composure on serve to lock up the 6-4 third set. This marks Hewitt’s second career ATP main-draw victory following his debut win in Washington D.C. earlier this month.
Around the Grounds: Daniel Altmaier Roars into Third Round
Germany’s 16th seed Daniel Altmaier also put on a dominant display at the Wake Forest Tennis Center, dispatching Argentina's Francisco Comesaña 6-1, 7-6(6). Altmaier stormed through a 25-minute first set, hitting high-percentage first serves and exploiting short balls.
Although Comesaña pushed hard in the second set, Altmaier stood firm in the tiebreak, letting out a roar as he secured his spot alongside Tsitsipas in the third round.
What It Means for the US Open
For Stefanos Tsitsipas, every hard-court victory in Winston-Salem is vital for building match fitness and mental sharpness heading into New York. For Cruz Hewitt, beating ATP tour regulars proves his rapid development on North American hard courts. As the Winston-Salem Open heats up, both players are establishing themselves as major storylines of the summer hard-court swing.
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