Federer, Hewitt survive marathons
MELBOURNE, Australia -- Roger Federer took his time about this one -- needing 4½ hours and five sets to advance at the Australian Open.
Lleyton Hewitt took things a step further. The Aussie set a record for the latest finish for a day's play at a Grand Slam. He beat 2006 runner-up Marcos Baghdatis 4-6, 7-5, 7-5, 6-7 (4), 6-3, completing the marathon at 4:33 a.m. local time Sunday.
Hewitt and Baghdatis went on court at 11:47 p.m. Saturday, the last scheduled match at Rod Laver Arena on Day 6, and Hewitt ripped a forehand winner on his fifth match point 4 hours, 45 minutes later.
There was never a letup in the tension. Starting when Federer was forced to rally before outlasting 49th-ranked Janko Tipsarevic 6-7 (5), 7-6 (1), 5-7, 6-1, 10-8 to reach the fourth round of the tournament he has won the last two years.
That pushed back the night session two hours.
Venus Williams beat Sania Mirza in straight sets in the first night match. Then Hewitt was up two sets to one and 5-1 in the fourth when things started to go wrong. He wasted one match point in the eighth game of that set and three more in the ninth game of the fifth before he broke Baghdatis to finish off the day.
"It wasn't easy for both of us. Obviously, an incredible day of tennis. For Roger Federer to go five sets, how often does that happen?" Hewitt said. "It's tough for everyone. Marcos and I are in the same boat."
Hewitt next plays No. 3 Novak Djokovic, who beat American Sam Querrey 6-3, 6-1, 6-3. Djokovic, the U.S. Open finalist, is Serbia's highest-ranked player.
Federer, seeking his 13th Grand Slam crown, needed each of his personal best 39 aces -- 14 more than his previous mark in one match -- to fend off the 2001 Australian Open junior champion.
"I don't often get to play five-setters unless they're against Nadal at Wimbledon," Federer said, referring to his rivalry with No. 2 Rafael Nadal. "It was good to be part of something like this. It's a pity you can't have draws in tennis."
He beat Nadal in five sets in the Wimbledon final last year.
Federer has reached the finals of the last 10 Grand Slam events, winning eight of them and losing two to Nadal -- both at the French Open.