Australian Lleyton Hewitt had to battle hard and dig himself out of huge hole before he beat Dutchman Sjeng Schalken 6-2 6-2 6-7 1-6 7-5 at Wimbledon. The World number one pinned the Dutchman to the back of the court and carved into his game with his trademark sharp returns and incisive groundstrokes to easily take the first two sets.
But Schalken resisted bravely in the third set, fending off the Australian's assault on his serve and saving four match points in the 12th game, before winning the tiebreak 7-5. It was the first set Hewitt had lost in the tournament. The Dutchman came out guns blazing in the fourth set breaking Hewitt's serve three times as he countered the his heavy groundstrokes.
The tiring players traded service breaks in the final set but it was Hewitt who prevailed. He survived two break points before earning match point with a whipping forehand down the line on Schalken's serve and won when the Dutchman put a forehand wide. Hewitt will now face Briton Tim Henman in the first semi-final on Friday afternoon.
Lleyton Hewitt beat Sjeng Schalken – 6-2, 6-2, 6-7, 1-6, 7-5.
Filed by James Shortt
