MELBOURNE, Jan 7,(V7N) – Cruz Hewitt, the 16-year-old son of former world number one Lleyton Hewitt, was among several notable players who failed to progress in Australian Open qualifying on Tuesday.

Hewitt, hoping to replicate his father’s achievement of qualifying for the tournament nearly 30 years ago, faced a tough first-round challenge against Georgian veteran Nikoloz Basilashvili. Despite the vocal support of his parents, the young Australian was outplayed 6-1, 6-4.

Setbacks for Tomic and Gasquet

Australian Bernard Tomic, once ranked as high as world number 17, continued his decline in professional tennis with a heavy 6-3, 6-1 loss to Slovakian Jozef Kovalik. Now competing primarily on the Challenger circuit, Tomic’s struggles to regain his former form were evident.

French veteran Richard Gasquet, a former world number seven, also exited in the first round, losing in straight sets to 23-year-old Duje Ajdukovic. Gasquet, who had been aiming for an 18th main-draw appearance at the Australian Open, was graciously acknowledged by Ajdukovic, who said:

"Shout-out to Richard, still giving it his all at his age. It's unbelievable."

Dan Evans Misses Out

British player Dan Evans, who has previously reached a career-high ranking of 21, also fell short in the qualifying rounds. His early exit further thins the ranks of seasoned players attempting to secure a spot in the main draw.

As the first Grand Slam of the year, the Australian Open begins on Sunday, offering an exciting blend of experienced stars and emerging talents ready to battle for glory.

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