Hewitt takes it up another notch

Wimbledon Review

Australia’s Lleyton Hewitt has reached the Wimbledon quarter-finals, courtesy of an entertaining four-set triumph over 24th seed Taylor Dent overnight at the Championships.

In a classic encounter between serve-volleyer and baseliner, Hewitt got off to a fast start, squandered two match points in the third-set tiebreak, before grinding past the American 6-4 6-4 6-7 (7-9) 6-3.

The 3rd seed will now face left-hander Feliciano Lopez, who upset last year’s semi-finalist Mario Ancic in straight sets, 6-4 6-4 6-2. The first Spaniard to make the Wimbledon quarter-finals in more than 30 years, Lopez will fancy his chances after blasting 36 winners past the tall Croatian.

He will have his hands full with the counter-punching South Australian, who used an array of forehand and backhand passing shots and lobs to outpoint Dent. Hewitt began brilliantly, capturing the first four games of the fourth-round clash before the burly Dent fought back late. However, he could not stop Hewitt from claiming the first set, and when he double-faulted twice to lose serve early in the second, the American was again under pressure.

Despite earning a code violation for abusive language in the sixth game, Hewitt kept his cool long enough to hold on and take a two sets-to-love lead.

The third set developed into a long struggle, with Dent improving his second delivery and Hewitt picking up his return of serve. Forced into a tiebreak, the 3rd seed held two match points at 6-4 but failed to capitalize as the gutsy American pushed it into a fourth set.

They exchanged breaks early in the fourth, but after nearly three hours in bright sunshine on Centre Court, Dent tired and handed Hewitt the all-important break in the eight game with three unforced errors. The Australian served it out comfortably and spoke after the match of the danger that lies in the quarters.

‘Every match is going to get tougher and tougher and I’m going to be playing bigger names and real challengers for the title…I play Lopez next and his big left-handed serve and forehand are his keys, so I’ve got to shut them down as quickly as possible,’ Hewitt said.

10th seeded Ancic’s defeat was the only surprise loss as the second week of the Championships unfolded, with all the favoured men and women making it through safely to the next round.

Defending champion and world number one, Roger Federer, proved too good for Spain’s Juan Carlos Ferrero in the last match on Centre Court, showing his class in accounting for the 23rd seed in straight sets. He’ll tackle the in-form Fernando Gonzalez on Wednesday, after the Chilean ended the campaign of Russia’s Mikhail Youzhny with a 7-6 7-6 6-3 victory on Court 3.

Youzhny’s countryman, Dmitri Tursonov was another casualty, losing in five tough sets to Frenchman Sebastien Grosjean. He’ll play 2nd seed Andy Roddick in the quarter finals, following the American’s 6-3 7-6 6-4 triumph over Argentinian Guillermo Coria. There was no love lost between the pair, as they exchanged words at the change of ends and a cursory shake of hands at the completion of the match.

Fellow Argentinian and 2002 Wimbledon finalist, David Nalbandian, made short work of rising French star, Richard Gasquet, overpowering the 19-year-old in straight sets, 6-0 in the third. Nalbandian’s next opponent will be former Australian Open winner, Swede Thomas Johansson, who cruised past Belarus’ Max Miryni 6-4 7-5 6-4.

On the women’s side of the draw, number one seed Lindsay Davenport overcame a mid-match stumble against Belgian Kim Clijsters to proceed to the quarter-finals. In a high quality encounter, the American looked to be in control in the second set tiebreak, but lapsed and allowed the plucky Clijsters to send it into a third set. However, Davenport’s heavy-hitting eventually wore down the 15th seed, who served three double-faults in the last game to lose the contest.

Davenport’s opponent in the quarters will be the powerful Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova, who comfortably took care of Magdalena Maleeva, 6-4 6-3.

A revitalized Mary Pierce continued on from her fine French Open form, using her big forehand to ease past Italy’s Flavia Panetta, 6-3 6-1. She’ll attempt to make her first Wimbledon semi-final tomorrow against 14th seed Venus Williams, who destroyed her sister’s conqueror, fellow American Jill Craybas, 6-0 6-2.

Golden girl and crowd favourite Maria Sharapova was an impressive 6-4 6-2 winner over France’s Nathalie Dechy, as she looks to add to the one major title she picked up last year at the All-England club. Unassuming Russian 8th seed, Nadia Petrova, awaits in the next round.

The other two Russians in the women’s draw -Elena Likhovtseva and Elena Dementieva- did not fare as well, both losing and helping to set up an enticing clash between 3rd seed Amelie Mauresmo and former French Open champion Anastasia Myskina.

The women’s quarter-finals will be played tomorrow, while the men’s matches will follow on Wednesday.

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