Federer ends Hewitt's Aussie dream
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Hewitt must have felt like crying after his Aussie dream ends
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MELBOURNE, Australia -- Swiss world No. 2 Roger Federer played some breathtaking tennis to come from behind and end Lleyton Hewitt's Australian Open 4-6 6-3 6-0 6-4 on Monday.
The Wimbledon champion fought back from a blistering Hewitt start to triumph in two hours 18 mininutes and searn a quarterfinal against Argentine David Nalbandian.
Federer blew away the memories of Hewitt's fantastic come-from-behind five-set win over him in last September's Davis Cup semifinal on the same Rod Laver Arena court.
His victory on Monday was his third win in 11 meetings with the former world No. 1 Hewitt and takes 22-year-old into the last eight in Melbourne for the firtst time in five attempts.
It was yet another Australian Open setback for 22-year-old Hewitt, who has never been beyond the fourth round.
With his exit there are no Australians left in the men's draw after Mark Philippoussis' straight sets defeat to Moroccan Hicham Arazi earlier on Monday.
No Australian has won his national title since 1976 when Mark Edmondson downed John Newcombe.
Hewitt began by breaking Federer in his opening service game and then fought off two break points at 15-40 to consolidate the break for 2-0.
The two young guns traded several fierce rallies but a big Hewitt forehand clinched the opening set in 34 minutes.
Federer fought off a break point in his first game of the second set, but it was the Australian who was broken in the sixth game after he was angered by a foot fault call by a linesman.
It kicked the Swiss out to a 4-2 lead as the momentum began to shift Federer's way. Federer on the way to levelling at a set-all was down two break points but fought them off to take the set in 38 minutes.
Federer ripped through Hewitt's service three times in a lopsided third set which he claimed in just 26 minutes.
That took a lot of wind out of the fighting Hewitt with Federer closing in on a magnificent victory.
He had match point in the ninth game on Hewitt's service, but the Australian gallantly fought it off to force Federer to serve out for the match.
He got to 40-30 and his second match point but he put a wild forehand out of court to the roar of the Australian crowd. But Federer made no mistake on his third match point and won with a smash.
