Novak Djokovic survives bold effort by Lleyton Hewitt

Published on Tuesday 24 January 2012 01:38

NOVAK Djokovic weathered a gallant challenge from a tenacious Lleyton Hewitt to send the last home player in the draw packing and make the quarter-finals of the Australian Open.

The 30-year-old Hewitt rode the crowd’s emotion at the packed Rod Laver Arena to poach a set off the world No 1 before going down fighting 6-1, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3. Defending champion Djokovic had not lost a set in the whole tournament and appeared to be cruising at 3-0 up in the third set until the injury-prone Hewitt dug deep from his vast reservoir of grit to break the Serbian and take the match into a fourth.

Djokovic captured the decisive break at 3-2 and held off the scrambling Australian to set up a last-eight clash with Spaniard David Ferrer.

Djokovic paid tribute to Hewitt’s fighting spirit but was less glowing about his own game, saying he had simply stopped moving during a fourth-set slump. “I should have closed it out earlier. I should have held my serve at 3-1 because I was playing well, I was feeling well,” said the 24-year-old. “Suddenly I stopped. I didn’t move well anymore. He got back into the match.

“He had the crowd, he had the big support. It got intense. Especially the start of the fourth set we had some great rallies. It’s good to come out from this match as a winner.”

With teenager Bernard Tomic bundled out in straight sets by Roger Federer on Sunday, Hewitt was left to make Australia’s last stand, but Djokovic was in no mood for sentiment as he motored through the first two sets. He was coasting in the third set before an unusual break in play caused by a flock of seagulls swooping into the arena. The interruption allowed former world No 1 Hewitt to marshall his forces, sparking a huge roar when he claimed the third set. But Djokovic was in no mood for fairytales and regained his focus with a professional display to close out the match.

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