World number one and defending champion Novak Djokovic has ended Australia’s Lleyton Hewitt’s brave campaign following a four-set victory in their 2012 Australian Open Fourth Round clash on Monday night.
In a battle which lasted just under three hours Djokovic advanced through to the Quarter-Finals at the year’s first grand slam following a four set 6-1 6-3 4-6 6-3 victory over the last remaining Australian in the draw in the unseeded Hewitt out on Rod Laver Arena.
The Serbian who went an incredible 70-6 during 2011 looked as though he was cruising through to the next round following taking the first two sets but Hewitt in trademark style fought-back to ensure that his opponent didn’t win in straight sets.
However Djokovic who hit 55 winners to Hewitt’s 23 managed to regain the ascendency in the fourth set and getting that vital break which lead him to victory and a quarter-final match-up with Spaniard fifth seed David Ferrer who eliminated French 17th seed Richard Gasquet in straight sets.
Joining Djokovic in the next round is British fourth seed and two-time runner-up in Andy Murray who stormed into the quarterfinals following a straight sets 6-1 6-1 1-0 victory over unseeded Kazakhstan player Mikhail Kukushkin who retired hurt.
Murray will take on Japanese 24th seed Kei Nishikori who produced the day’s major upset on this side of the draw with his marathon five set 2-6 6-2 6-1 3-6 6-3 victory over French sixth seed and former finalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
Tagged with: Andy Murray, Ascendency, Australian Open, David Ferrer, Defending Champion, Fifth Seed, Jo Wilfried Tsonga, Lleyton Hewitt, Nishikori, Novak Djokovic, Quarter Finals, Quarterfinals, Richard Gasquet, Rod Laver, Rod Laver Arena, Sixth Seed, Straight Sets, Time Runner, Trademark Style, Unseeded
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