Lleyton Hewitt Sets Up Djokovic Clash

Lleyton Hewitt gave the crowd on Rod Laver Arena something to cheer about as he saw off the challenge from Milos Raonic to set up a fourth round clash with world number one Novak Djokovic.

Hewitt may be the veteran of Australian tennis and coming to the end of his career but that fighting spirit still burns as brightly as it did when he was world number one.

But Raonic, who is the rising star of men’s tennis, posed a huge threat to the wild card if he wanted to continue his run in Melbourne.

And it was the youngster who took the first set as a single break was enough to see him take it 6-4.

Despite a lack of matches over the last twelve months and a body that was already tired from his exerts this week Hewitt drew on every inch of his experience as he once again started to fight back.

Hewitt took the huge serve of Raonic in his stride and it wasn’t until the eighth game of the second set that he finally had a break point chance - and he didn’t let that opportunity pass him by as he edged ahead.

Hew quickly serve out the set to level the match at 1-1, much to the delight of the packed crowd on Rod Laver who were now in fine voice.

And it was Hewitt who broke through first in the third set, but he was unable to consolidate the break as a string of errors saw him hand it straight back.

A tie break was needed at the end of the third set and it was here that Hewitt’s experience really started to show as a double mini-break saw the Aussie move to 6-3 with three match points, two on his own serve.

But a couple of unforced errors saw the next two points go to Raonic as he closed the gap to 6-5. But Hewitt didn’t panic as he took the set on the third time of asking to move even further ahead.

 Hewitt struck early in the fourth set as he broke in the fourth game and the finishing line was not too far away.

However he needed three match point chances before he finally got over the line 4-6 6-3 7-6 (7-5) 6-3.

Speaking on court after the match Hewitt said: "A couple of months ago, I would have given anything to be out here playing to get into the second week of the Australian Open.

"It's an amazing feeling.”

But he faces an even bigger challenge in the fourth round as he will face defending champion Novak Djokovic - who is yet to break a sweat in this tournament.

His third round match saw him take on Nicolas Mahut losing just two games in a 6-0 6-1 6-1 victory.

FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw