Hikari Shiraishi Defeats Hewitt Son in Straight Sets to Reach Singapore ITF Semifinals
Singapore — In a commanding display of form, Japanese qualifier Hikari Shiraishi advanced to the semifinals of the Singapore World Tennis Tour II 2026 with a straight-sets victory over Cruise Hewitt, son of tennis legend Lleyton Hewitt, on Friday, April 24, 2026.
The second-seeded Shiraishi, ranked world No. 457 at 25 years old, overwhelmed the 17-year-old Australian wildcard 6-3, 6-1 in just 46 minutes of play at the Kallang Tennis Centre. The win marked Shiraishi’s first career victory over a Hewitt and secured his place in the tournament’s final four.
“I stayed focused from the first point,” Shiraishi said in his post-match comments. “Cruise is a talented young player with a famous name, but I executed my game plan well today — served consistently, returned aggressively, and didn’t offer him any rhythm.”
Shiraishi entered the tournament as a qualifier and had already notched wins over Swedish qualifier Erik Moonga (world No. 1868) in the first round and Japanese domestic player Taisei Ichikawa (world No. 852) in the second round to reach the quarterfinals. His victory over Hewitt — ranked world No. 700 and making only his second ITF main-draw appearance — completed a flawless week to date.
For Hewitt, the son of two-time Wimbledon champion Lleyton Hewitt, the loss ended a promising run that included a second-round victory over British player Marcus Summers (world No. 728). Hewitt had received a wildcard into the event and was making his debut at the senior ITF level after a successful junior career that saw him reach the semifinals of the Australian Open boys’ doubles in 2024.
The match began with both players holding serve early, but Shiraishi broke Hewitt’s serve in the seventh game of the opening set to seize a 4-3 lead. He consolidated the break with a love game to produce it 5-3 and served out the set on his next opportunity.
In the second set, Shiraishi increased the pressure, breaking Hewitt’s serve twice — in the second and sixth games — to build a 5-1 lead. Hewitt saved two set points on his serve at 1-5 but ultimately fell when Shiraishi closed out the match with a forehand winner down the line on his first match point.
Shiraishi’s victory sets up a semifinal clash with American qualifier Tristan Stringer (world No. 1098), who upset fourth-seeded British player Elliot Hadd 6-4, 6-3 in the other quarterfinal. Stringer, also making his ITF main-draw debut, had defeated Swedish qualifier Linus Bergström in the first round and Australian wildcard Jayden Chen in the second round.
The Singapore World Tennis Tour II 2026 is part of the ITF Men’s World Tennis Tour and offers $15,000 in prize money. The tournament is being held on hard courts at the Kallang Tennis Centre from April 19 to April 26, 2026, and is sanctioned by the International Tennis Federation.
Shiraishi’s run continues a strong spring for the Japanese player, who reached the quarterfinals of the M15 Sharm El Sheikh event in Egypt two weeks prior. His performance in Singapore marks his best result on the ITF Tour since reaching a final in Chiang Mai, Thailand, in November 2024.
For Hewitt, the experience represents a valuable step in his transition to the professional ranks. Despite the loss, the teenager gained exposure to high-level competition and will look to build on this week’s results as he continues his development on the ITF Junior Circuit, where he remains eligible to play through 2027.
The winner of the Shiraishi-Stringer semifinal will face either top-seeded Chinese player Zhang Zhizhen or eighth-seeded Indian player Ramkumar Ramanathan in the final, pending the outcome of the other semifinal match scheduled for Saturday.
Shiraishi’s next match is scheduled for Saturday, April 26, 2026, with the semifinal expected to begin not before 10:00 a.m. Local time (02:00 UTC). Fans can follow live scoring and updates through the ITF’s official website and tournament portal.
As Shiraishi prepares for his biggest career match to date, the Japanese qualifier carries momentum, confidence, and the quiet determination of a player who has earned every point through grit and precision. For Hewitt, the journey continues — one match, one lesson, and one step closer to realizing his potential on the global stage.
For more updates on the Singapore World Tennis Tour II 2026 and other ITF events worldwide, stay tuned to Archysport.
