Federer makes it to last 16 with a four-set victory over former World No 1 Australian
Federer makes it to last 16 with a four-set victory over former World No 1 Australian
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The win, which assures Federer of retaining the World No 1 status no matter who wins the title here, means he will play either American James Blake or Tommy Robredo of Spain for a place in the quarter-finals.
But it was far from vintage Federer as he looked listless and unfocussed at times against an aggressive Hewitt who was looking to end a 13-game losing streak against the world No. 1 dating to the 2004 Australian Open.
Hewitt, clawing his way back up the rankings after falling out of the top 100 in February, had the first look at a break when he went 40-love up on Federer's second service game.
Five straight points from the Swiss star dismantled that threat and three games later Federer showed how it was done by converting his first break point to take a 4-2 lead.
The five-time defending champion was coasting at 40-0 in the following game, but a couple of loose shots let Hewitt back into the game and another misdirected forehand gifted him the break back.
Unusually, Federer was playing under the hot midday sun in the first match up on the Arthur Ashe Stadium court and it did not appear to agree with him as he served up another sloppy game to give Hewitt a second break.
The Australian then clinched the set on serve thanks to three more unforced errors from Federer. It was the first set he had taken off him in two years.
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