July 01, 2008

WORLD No.1 and five-time defending champion Roger Federer ended Lleyton Hewitt's Wimbledon campaign with a straight-sets fourth-round win over the Aussie father-to-be.

Federer increased his winning streak on grass to 63 with a 7-6 (9-7) 6-2 6-4 win over the 20th-seeded Hewitt in one hour and 49 minutes.

Waiting for Federer in the quarter-finals is unseeded Croation Mario Ancic, who came back from two sets down to beat No.22 seed Fernando Verdasco of Spain 3-6 4-6 6-3 6-4 13-11.

Hewitt paid tribute to Federer's unrivalled ability to absorb pressure after the top seed took time to settle.

"The first set could have gone either way. I had chances in the tiebreak,'' said Hewitt.

"But he served extremely well. Any quarter chances I got I didn't have for long. He hit the lines very well today and that's why he's the best player in the world, especially on this surface.''

The victory also secured the top ranking for at least another week for Federer, regardless of how he fares the rest of the tournament.

Federer, who is seeking his sixth consecutive title at the All England Club, now has a 14-7 win-loss record - including 12 straight victories - against Hewitt, the last man to win Wimbledon before the Swiss began his dominance of the event.

After clinching the first-set tiebreak on his fourth set point with an ace, Federer stepped up.

He won the fourth game to love for a 4-0 lead in the second set, which he closed out comfortably.

In the third set, Hewitt failed to take some early chances against Federer, who sealed victory on his second of three match points when Hewitt netted a return.

It was Federer's serving and ability to win the big points which ultimately proved the difference.

The world No.1 converted his only three break-point opportunities of the match - two in the second set and one in the third - while Hewitt was unable to capitalise on any of his eight break-point chances on Federer's serve.

"He hit the target every time,'' Hewitt said of Federer's serve.

"I had break-point chances there late in the second set and early in the third set. I didn't do too much wrong with them.

"When he's serving like that, it's not easy on this surface purely because his serve sets up the point for him to play in his comfort zone.

"It's very hard to take him out of that zone.''

Federer thundered down 21 aces to Hewitt's eight to set up a quarter-final with Ancic, the last man to beat the Swiss dominator at Wimbledon - some six years ago.

The two players had entered a packed centre court to a standing ovation and a small but vocal band of Australian supporters were fully behind Hewitt.

They sang several tailor-made chants, squealing each time Federer hit the ball in the warm-up and grunting heartily when their compatriot hit it back.

With Hewitt trailing 3-4 in the opening set - and just hours after the news broke that he and wife Bec are expecting their second baby, in January - the Australian fans launched into the Home And Away theme song in a bid to lift their compatriot.

But it was to no avail.

"I served considerably well when I had to,'' Federer said.

"But I could see Lleyton was struggling. The tiebreaker was key as that put me on the way and I saved break points when I had to.''

Hewitt must now decide whether to undergo surgery for a hip injury which has troubled him since March or push through the pain barrier and continue with his plans to contest the Beijing Olympics and US Open in August.