Roger Federer continued his quest for sixth consecutive US Open title with a four-set victory over tenacious former champion Lleyton Hewitt.
In a rematch of their 2004 final at Arthur Ashe Stadium, when Federer landed the first of his titles, it took four sets to defeat the 2001 winner, although the world number one had to come from a set down before dispatching the 31st seed and fellow 28-year-old 4-6, 6-3, 7-5, 6-3.
It was Federer’s 37th consecutive win in the final grand slam of the year and he had gone into the match having recorded 13 straight victories over Hewitt in their total of 23 matches played, leading the series 15-8.
“I guess it’s really the details,” Federer said when asked why he and Hewitt had always proven to be a competitive match-up.
“This match was close, it could have gone either way.”
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“Today was windy, which made it quite hard but I thought because he had the good start he maybe just believed much more in today’s match than in other ones he’s played against me. The way I came through I was very happy because I knew that being a set down against Lleyton is always going to be a difficult situation for me to be in.
“Make one more mistake and I’m in the fifth set or I go down completely so I was relieved coming through.”
Federer had begun the match very sluggishly despite having broken the Australian early in the first set. Hewitt broke back to 4-3 as the champion’s forehand let him down and then held for 4-4.
The ninth game saw Hewitt continue his winning streak with a decisive break of serve after another shaky game from Federer, the Australian contributing just one winner as his rival committed six errors. Hewitt served out for the set and there was a shock in the making with Federer a set down.
It did not last long as Federer roared back into contention, taking the second set and drawing level with a huge roar as Hewitt failed to return his serve. Hewitt had plenty of chances in the third set but failed to take any of his break points while there was a brief worry for Federer at the start of the ninth game.
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With the score at 4-4, he lost his footing as he came into mid-court to play a backhand and ended up on his knees, an unusual loss of balance from the normally perfectly poised world number one. There were no apparent problems for the defending champion and he bounced back up with a sheepish grin and went on to take the set, wrapping things up at the net with an overhead winner having run Hewitt ragged around the court.
The earlier errors and miscues were long forgotten as Federer quickly took a stranglehold in the fourth set, going a double break up at 4-1.
Federer served for the match at 5-2 but reverted to the bad habits of earlier in the match with some wild forehands and Hewitt got to break point. He took it as the champion sent a forehand long and there was a glimmer of hope for the former champion at 5-3. Back on serve Federer had another go at closing it out, earning two match points and taking the first of them when Hewitt’s forehand went long, the five-time champion letting out a huge “yes!” as victory was secured.
Having progressed to the fourth round, Federer was awaiting the winner of the last scheduled match of the night between American James Blake, the 21st seed, and Spain’s Tommy Robredo, the number 14.