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Federer, Hewitt Win Marathons

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The Associated Press

Published: January 20, 2008

MELBOURNE, Australia - The drama started with a rare five-setter for Roger Federer. Then Lleyton Hewitt carried on almost to dawn.

Day 6 at the Australian Open was a long, long journey. About one-third of the 15,000 people with tickets for the Saturday night session didn't leave until Hewitt smacked a forehand past Marcos Baghdatis at 4:33 a.m. today.

Federer needed 4 hours, 27 minutes to beat 49th-ranked Janko Tipsarevic 6-7 (5), 7-6 (1), 5-7, 6-1, 10-8 in an extended afternoon match that pushed back the night session at least two hours.

Federer had won 30 straight sets at Melbourne Park since dropping the first in the 2006 final against Baghdatis. The Swiss star had lost only six games in his first two matches this year.

"It's not such a relief - it's more happiness," Federer told the crowd at Rod Laver Arena, where he has won the past two Australian titles and three overall. "I'm happy I could deliver a five-set thriller. It was good to be part of something like this."
David Nalbandian and Juan Carlos Ferrero stepped back on the same court to begin the Sunday schedule just more than 6 hours after Hewitt and Baghdatis walked off.

Former No. 1 Ferrero beat 10th-seeded Nalbandian 6-1, 6-2, 6-3 in a third-round match postponed by rain Saturday. In another third-rounder, No. 5 David Ferrer beat American Vincent Spadea 6-3, 6-3, 6-2.

Wedged between the epic five-setters Saturday, Venus Williams finished off Sania Mirza in straight sets after declining an invitation to either postpone that match or move to Vodafone Arena, the other stadium with a roof at Melbourne Park.

So when Hewitt tossed the ball up for his first serve it was 11:47 p.m. - the latest start for a singles match in the Australian Open. He broke Baghdatis on his fifth match point 4:45 later to win 4-6, 7-5, 7-5, 6-7 (4), 6-3.

"Obviously, an incredible day of tennis," Hewitt said, sounding hoarse and tired. "I mean, for Roger Federer to go five sets - how often does that happen?"

Hewitt will play No. 3 Novak Djokovic, who ousted Sam Querrey 6-3, 6-1, 6-3 to leave James Blake of Tampa as the best U.S. hope at the Open.

Blake rallied from two sets down and then a double-break in the fourth to beat Frenchman Sebastien Grosjean 4-6, 2-6, 6-0, 7-6 (5), 6-2.

"That's got to be my biggest comeback," Blake said, referring to his second victory after nine straight losses in five-set matches. "Just seemed like every time there was a mountain to climb ... couldn't have been a better feeling than to accomplish what I did."

Next up is 6-foot-5 Marin Cilic, a 6-2, 6-7 (4), 6-3, 6-1 winner vs. last year's losing finalist, Fernando Gonzalez.

On the women's side, No. 4 Ana Ivanovic advanced with a 6-3, 6-4 victory against No. 28 Katarina Srebotnik and No. 8 Venus Williams recovered an early break to beat Mirza of India 7-6 (0), 6-4. In a fourth-round match, top-ranked Justine Henin beat Hsieh Su-wei, Taiwan, 6-2, 6-2.

Federer said his five-setter would give him a good idea of where he stands as he bids to make an 11th consecutive Grand Slam final. A title would move him within one of Pete Sampras' record 14 majors.

In 35 majors, Federer is 9-4 in matches that have gone five sets.

"All the opportunities missed put me in a lot of pressure," Federer said. "I was back against the wall and I was playing a guy who's confident and believes in his chance. But I tried to sort of block that out when I entered the fifth set, and I was happy I really didn't give him much opportunity."

After letting a 5-1 lead slip in the fourth set, Hewitt held for a 6-5 lead at 3:34 a.m.

Keyword: Australian Open for the latest scores from Melbourne.

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