Top seed needs four sets to end hopes of Aussie star
Novak Djokovic dropped his first set of the Australian Open but came through a real battle to finally end the hopes of home star Lleyton Hewitt.
The top seed appeared to be cruising to victory when he led by two sets and a break but Hewitt showed all his renowned fighting qualities to force a fourth set.
Djokovic finally ended the resistance to claim a 6-1 6-3 4-6 6-3 win, but after almost three hours on court the world number one knew he had been in a fight.
The Serb said: "I have to give credit to my opponent today. He never gives up, he's a great competitor.
"He obviously made me play an extra shot and I made a couple of unforced errors."
Djokovic broke three times in each of the first two sets but his focus may have been shifted when a bird flew into the Rod Laver Arena when he led 3-0 in the third set. Whatever happened, Hewitt's level certainly rose.
Fightback
Much to the delight of the patriotic crowd, Hewitt launched his fightback and after breaking back he suddenly found himself serving for the set thanks to another break in game nine.
The Aussie duly held to reduce the deficit and with Djokovic's forehand producing more errors, Hewitt also had a chance at the start of the fourth.
He held break point at 1-1 but was unable to take it and that was to prove crucial.
Djokovic broke for 5-3 and served out for a place in the quarter-finals where he will play Spain's David Ferrer, finishing the match with a fine backhand winner.
"I have to give credit to my opponent who never gives up," said Djokovic.
"He's a great competitor and he kept on making me play an extra shot. I made a couple of unforced errors and he got back into the match. I have a lot of respect for him.
"For two sets and 3-0 I was playing really well and then I stopped moving but credit to him, he wasn't making any unforced errors."
