A near-full court three at Melbourne Park was treated to a glimpse of Australia’s tennis future on Tuesday as Cruz Hewitt pushed former top-20 player Nikoloz Basilashvili in his first formal match at his home grand slam, before the Georgian prevailed 6-1, 6-4 in 73 minutes.

The 16-year-old’s Australian Open debut drew hundreds for the first round of qualifying which would usually be played in front of largely empty stands at Melbourne Park. The curious onlookers were joined by more than a dozen in the Hewitt box including mother Bec and father Lleyton, who sat beside coach Peter Luczak and was briefly accompanied by Australia’s top-ranked player Alex de Minaur.

The teenager showed promise with several forehand winners, but was unable to match the powerful groundstrokes of Basilashvili, who is mounting a comeback after four surgeries to his arm. The first set flashed by, and the Australian was broken twice before he retreated to beneath a towel at the change of ends with the score 0-5.

At that stage it looked like an embarrassing day for the Hewitt family, but the gangly youth showed determination to elevate his game and provide a challenge to his accomplished opponent. Amid urging from the stands to take his time and regain composure, the very next game Hewitt held serve and shook his racquet in as much relief as joy.

Apart from the crowded box, three confidants were providing instructions at the other end of the court, underlining the expectation that hovers around the younger Hewitt. He was given a wildcard into qualifying for this tournament, and while his game is still improving, his appeal is obvious.

The expectant crowd were finally given a glimpse of the Hewitt DNA when the teenager won the first game of the second set. It wasn’t the signature celebration of his father – marked by his hand bent at 90 degrees towards his face – but there was definitely the clenching of a fist and what sounded like his father’s “come on”.

The fans responded, with an “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie” chant erupting in the fourth game when Cruz was working hard to stay in the match. The muted response was less “ois” and more laughs, as the discerning opening week crowd understood that this was an exhibition more than a contest.

Nobody told Hewitt however, who continued battling in the second set. He improved his return rate from the muscular Georgian, and managed to break his opponent not long after the crowd’s chant.

The moment triggered the match’s loudest cheer, and highlighted the potential popularity of Hewitt, who still moves with the awkwardness of someone his age and with the youthful face to match. In the end however, Basilashvili – twice the Australian’s age – was always in control, blitzing through his own service games and ruthlessly targeting the Australian’s still nascent backhand.

While some had suggested Hewitt’s wildcard for qualifying was underserved, the turnout justified the decision by organisers, and the match provided a historic moment for Australia’s first tennis family.

Mother Bec appeared excited in the minutes beforehand, organising her son’s contingent in the box and at one stage having to be told to turn off her phone flashlight when taking a call. Her husband was cooler, wearing dark glasses and offering only encouragement, as Lusczak seated beside him provided instruction to his son.

Elsewhere at Melbourne Park on Monday, former teen prodigy Bernard Tomic failed in his qualifying bid, after he lost in straight sets to Slovakian Jozef Kovalik. In the women’s qualifiers, West Australian Maddison Inglis stayed alive after she defeated France’s Elsa Jacquemot, as did Kimberly Birrell who won against Japan’s Sara Saito.