Federer survives scare; Hewitt wins epicAssociated Press
Updated: January 19, 2008, 4:22 PM EST 5 comments RSS digg blog email print MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) - fstl:categorylink categoryId="111476">Roger Federer took his time about this one — needing 4 1/2 hours and five sets to advance at the Australian Open.
Lleyton Hewitt took things a step further. The Aussie set a record for the latest finish for a day's play at a Grand Slam. He beat 2006 runner-up Marcos Baghdatis 4-6, 7-5, 7-5, 6-7 (4), 6-3, completing the marathon at 4:33 a.m. local time Sunday.
American James Blake rallied from two sets down to defeat Sebastien Grosjean of France and Novak Djokovic, Tomas Berdych, and unseeded Marin Cilic were also winners on a day marked by rain.
Hewitt and Baghdatis went on court at 11:47 p.m. Saturday, the last scheduled match at Rod Laver Arena on Day 6, and Hewitt ripped a forehand winner on his fifth match point 4 hours, 45 minutes later.
There was never a letup in the tension. Starting when Federer was forced to rally before outlasting 49th-ranked Janko Tipsarevic 6-7 (5), 7-6 (1), 5-7, 6-1, 10-8 to reach the fourth round of the tournament he has won the last two years.
That pushed back the night session two hours.
Venus Williams beat Sania Mirza in straight sets in the first night match. Then Hewitt was up two sets to one and 5-1 in the fourth when things started to go wrong. He wasted one match point in the eighth game of that set and three more in the ninth game of the fifth before he broke Baghdatis to finish off the day.
"It wasn't easy for both of us. Obviously, an incredible day of tennis. For Roger Federer to go five sets, how often does that happen?" Hewitt said. "It's tough for everyone. Marcos and I are in the same boat."
Hewitt next plays No. 3 seed Djokovic, who beat American Sam Querrey 6-3, 6-1, 6-3. Djokovic, the U.S. Open finalist, is Serbia's highest-ranked player.
Tipsarevic, who has never reached a singles final, could be closing the gap on him after playing the match of his life and gave Federer everything he could handle with the packed crowd screaming on every point.
"I went on court with the idea that I can win," the Serbian said. "I was close. I lost because he was better in the important moments of the match."
Federer, seeking his 13th Grand Slam crown, needed each of his personal best 39 aces — 14 more than his previous mark in one match — to fend off the 2001 Australian Open junior champion.
Lleyton Hewitt needed 4 hours and 45 minutes to take down Marcos Baghdatis in Melbourne. (Dita Alangkara / Associated Press)
"I don't often get to play five-setters unless they're against Nadal at Wimbledon," Federer said, referring to his rivalry with No. 2 Rafael Nadal. "It was good to be part of something like this. It's a pity you can't have draws in tennis."
He beat Nadal in five sets in the Wimbledon final last year.
Federer has reached the finals of the last 10 Grand Slam events, winning eight of them and losing two to Nadal — both at the French Open.
Federer was untouchable in his first two matches, dropping only six games in six sets. He had numerous chances to take control, but Tipsarevic saved 16 of 20 break points against him until Federer finally cashed No. 21 after rallying from 40-0 as the Serbian served at 8-8 in the fifth set.
"I had to block out all the chances I missed," said Federer, who next faces No. 13 seed Berdych, a four-set winner over No. 21 Juan Monaco. "He came up with some fantastic plays and played me well."
Tipsarevic said his strategy was simple.
"Be aggressive, and then try to make him work for the points that he's winning. "Against Roger it's so hard, because he's playing every point. Even when you're up like 40-0, the game is far, far from over."
Blake was only two points from joining Andy Roddick and Fernando Gonzalez as an upset third-round loser at the Australian Open.
Blake rallied from down two sets, then from a double break in the fourth before beating veteran Frenchman Grosjean 4-6, 2-6, 6-0, 7-6 (5), 6-2 on Saturday afternoon.
The 12th-seeded Blake, who has never gone past the quarterfinals at a Grand Slam, will play a fourth-round match against the 19-year-old Cilic, who beat last year's finalist Fernando Gonzalez 6-2, 6-7 (4), 6-3, 6-1.
Blake started to turn it around as Grosjean, who committed only 15 unforced errors in the first two sets, had 13 in the third.
Grosjean, making his 10th appearance at Melbourne Park, wasn't finished.
Counter-attacking against Blake's go-for-broke style, he broke twice in the fourth set to pull ahead 4-1 before Blake ran off four games in a row.
Grosjean saved a set point while serving at 4-5 and, in the tiebreaker, took a 4-1 and then 5-3 lead. But Blake took the last four points, three on clean winners. He hopped around the court, shouting "Yeah! Yeah!" when he leveled the match on a serve that Grosjean whacked long.
James Blake rallied from two sets down to beat Sebastien Grosjean. (Mark Baker / Associated Press)
That seemed to take the steam out of Grosjean. Blake broke serve twice as he opened up a 5-1 lead in the deciding set. He held at love to finish off the match in 3 hours, 8 minutes.
After losing nine matches that were decided in five sets, Blake has won his last two — here and in the second round at the last U.S. Open against another Frenchman, Fabrice Santoro.
"That's got to be my biggest comeback — down two sets to love, two sets to one, two breaks; 4-1 in the breaker, 5-3 in the breaker," Blake said. "Just seemed like every time there was a mountain to climb ... couldn't have been a better feeling than to accomplish what I did."
Blake said the key was keeping calm.
"I don't think a lot of people like my chances, but I always do - no matter what my body language says."
Seventh-ranked Gonzalez, who used his powerful forehand to reach the final here last year, never settled into a rhythm.
"It was probably the best match of my life," said Cilic, who had never gone past the first round in three previous majors.
The 6-foot-5 Cilic had 14 aces against one of the better service returners.
Gonzalez, who beat Federer in the opening match at the Masters Cup in November, had only 19 winners against 31 unforced errors.
While a few Serbian flags were scattered about Rod Laver Arena — the roof was closed because of rain that postponed matches on outside courts — Federer fans dominated, including one holding a sign reading "Federer Express."
The Swiss star was nearly derailed before extending his winning streak at Melbourne Park to 17 matches, tied for fourth-best behind Andre Agassi's record of 26 in a row.
Federer, who last lost a set in this event while beating Baghdatis in the final two years ago, started in top form again, ripping seven aces in his first four service games. But the Serbian, looking like a grad student in his dark-rimmed glasses and short beard, forced a tiebreaker, where the only point that went against serve came with Federer facing set point at 5-6. Tipsarevic ripped a forehand crosscourt pass that dropped just inside the corner.
Tipsarevic fended off five break points in the second set before faltering in the tiebreaker. Tipsarevic rallied from 15-40 while serving at 4-5 in the third set, then broke in the next game as Federer lost two aces to successful challenges by Tipsarevic, who then held for the set.
As he has done so often, Federer seemed to find an extra gear, running off five straight games to take the fourth set and even the match.
Tipsarevic saved two break points while serving at 2-2 in the deciding set, then a match point at 8-8 before Federer nailed a backhand volley winner to take the last break. Federer held for the match when Tipsarevic netted a backhand to end it in 4 hours, 27 minutes.
Federer shouted in relief as he pumped his fist.
"What a great victory," he said.
Hewitt wasted chances, including a match point in the eighth game of the fourth set.
After letting a 5-1 lead slip in the fourth set, Hewitt ensured he'd pass the record for the latest finishing match at a major when he held for a 6-5 lead at 3:34 a.m. — the same time Italy's Andreas Seppi finished off Bobby Reynolds in a 6-1, 6-7 (4), 6-7 (5), 7-6 (3), 6-3 match in the first round in Australia last year.
He broke Baghdatis twice in the fifth, the second after the Cypriot saved triple match point and was laughing almost deliriously with each.
"That's why I dream — for matches like this," Baghdatis said. "It's a pleasure ... even losing it."
He just missed becoming the first man at the Australian Open to beat three Grand Slam champions in consecutive rounds. He opened with wins over two former Australian champions — Thomas Johansson (2002) and Safin.
Hewitt ranked the win among his best in a career that includes U.S. Open and Wimbledon titles.
"Tonight is definitely up there," he said. "Marcos has beaten two Grand Slam winners in his first rounds. He hasn't had an easy draw to get through at all. He's a tough guy to finish off."
Rain delayed matches on all outside courts Saturday, with play continuing at Rod Laver Arena and at Vodafone Arena, the other stadium at Melbourne Park with a retractable roof.
