Hewitt reaches quarter-finals in Washington
WASHINGTON: Lleyton Hewitt further polished his form on hardcourt with the US Open drawing near, earning a 6-3, 6-2 second-round win Wednesday against Colombian Alejandro Falla at the US$500,000 Washington Open.
The second-seeded Australian took a step close to a possible finals re-match Sunday against top seed Andre Agassi, who defeated him earlier this month for the title in Cincinnati.
Hewitt claimed his 45th win of 2004 against the inexperienced South American, who won his first career hardcourt match here in the first round over Justin Gimelstob.
“I'm hitting the ball well,” said Hewitt, now into his eighth quarter-final of the season. “Tonight was patchy here and there, there are things to sharpen up.
But this is not the Grand Slam either. You want to be hitting peak form in about two weeks.”
The 2001 US Open champion, will next face Frenchman Cyril Saulnier, who put out Belgian Gilles Elseneer 6-3, 7-6 (7-2).
Saulnier reached his fifth quarter-final of the season as he improved his 2004 record to 20-16.
The 29-year-old said he's looking forward to matching up against the Aussie.
“It will be a tough match, but one where I can test my game,” said the world number 64. “I just have to keep up my current confidence.
“I'm gaining more confidence,” said Saulnier, whose game has picked up this summer with semi-finals in Newport and Los Angeles back-to-back last month.
“I've been a bit fragile up until now, but things are changing. I think my fitness is also much better. I'm playing the best of the past two years.”
Hewitt, ranked eighth, has not lifted a title in six months, when he won Rotterdam.
Dutchman Raemon Sluiter, kept out of the Olympics despite meeting qualifying standards by a controversial federation decision, gained some satisfaction through an upset of Spain's sixth seed Alberto Martin 7-6 (7/4), 5-7, 7-6 (7-2). – AFP
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