'Amazing feeling': Alex De Minaur defeats 17-year-old Cruz Hewitt in highly anticipated battle

(Getty/Emilee Chinn)

Top seed Alex de Minaur has kept his Washington title defence alive after getting past Aussie teenager Cruz Hewitt in what was a "weird" experience.

The world No.5 was broken once throughout the contest as he sealed his progression to the quarter-finals of the ATP 500 event with a routine 6-2, 6-3 win.

All the pre-game talk centred on the duo's relationship, dating back over a decade, with photos circulating on social media.

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"We're going to play for the next 10 years of our lives," de Minaur said to Hewitt when the pair shared a warm embrace at the net.

Cruz, son of former world No.1 and two-time Slam winner Lleyton, received a qualifying wildcard two weeks after reaching the Wimbledon Boys' final, before securing his maiden Tour-level victory against world No.85 Marcos Giron in straight sets.

De Minaur, who is 10 years older, described the unique occasion on Centre Court.

"It was definitely weird," de Minaur said.

"I knew I was going to play him on the tour someday, but I didn't actually expect it to be this week. It was an amazing feeling.

"Even [with] all the lead-up, seeing all the incredible pictures that we have together and how we've grown up, I'm glad I managed to get through.

"But I'm sure we're going to have many battles in the years to come."

Hewitt's efforts in the American capital have skyrocketed his live ranking by 244 spots to world No.368.

For Demon, his next assignment is against unseeded American Brandon Nakashima with a place in the last four up for grabs.

The top four seeds remain in the men's draw (de Minaur, Ben Shelton, Taylor Fritz, Lorenzo Musetti).

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