Australia’s Lleyton Hewitt produced some of his best tennis in recent times to crush Spaniard Carlos Moya 6-2 6-4 and book a semi-final berth against world number one Roger Federer at the Cincinnati Masters here on Friday. This was after he had systematically demolished Austria’s Jurgen Melzer in his pre-quarterfinal match.
Moya, who was considered the favourite after he had beaten Serbia’s latest sensation Novak Djokovic in the earlier rounds, was a victim of Hewitt’s superior court coverage and also committed too many unforced errors which certainly did not help his cause. Hewitt, on the other hand looked extremely fit and looks like giving Federer a real run for his money in the semis.
It was a completely contrasting match for Roger Federer, on whom the effects of playing without a coach are perhaps beginning to show. Federer, who has looked rusty throughout the tournament, dropped his first set of the week in his 6-3 3-6 6-2 victory over Spain’s Nicolas Almagro in his quarterfinal match. He had come close to being knocked out by Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis in the pre-quarterfinal, where he had to save 4 set points in the first set and was a break down in the second at 5-4. He is certainly going to have to up his game by a few gears if he wants to maintain his 10 match unbeaten record against Hewitt.
Hewitt’s victory would give a real boost to the sagging popularity of men’s tennis, as it would then make it a four way fight for the top with Djokovic and Rafael Nadal also playing well. Hewitt, at 26 is not getting any younger and this is maybe his golden chance to beat Federer and get back his confidence, which he seems to be seriously lacking in, since his downward spiral from the world number one position due to an injury in 2001. It promises to be a cracker of a match and looks most likely to produce the tournament winner.
The other semi-final will star Russia’s Nikolay Davydenko and USA’s James Blake who beat David Ferrer and Sam Querrey respectively in their quarterfinal matches.
VIA:BBC
