US Open 2013: Day 5 wrap - Lleyton Hewitt back in spotlight after knocking Juan Martin del Potro out
Lleyton Hewitt celebrates match point against Juan Martin Del Potro during their second round match on Day Five of the 2013 US Open on August 30, 2013 in New York City. (Getty Images)
The first Friday of the US Open had some exciting action in store as most of the big guns geared up for battle. Here is all you need to know about the action on Day 5:
Match of the day (Juan Martin Del Potro vs. Lleyton Hewitt)
The night time action at Flushing Meadows threw up another enthralling encounter as two former champions slugged it out for a third round berth. Del Potro with his recent form on the American hard courts started out as the favourite but the 2001 US Open champion, Hewitt, has been known to be a tricky customer in the earlier rounds.
The Argentine started the match sharper of the two, racing to a 2-0 lead. However, Hewitt clawed his way back into the set, breaking Del Potro twice and winning the set 6-4. In the second set, the Australian held set point to tale a two-nothing advantage but Argentine denied Hewitt the opportunity to pocket the set 7-5.
Del Potro upped the ante in the third, and raced to a two sets to one lead. The fourth set was neck-and-neck, with both players exchanging breaks of serves, before heading into a tie-break. Hewitt got an early mini-break after Del Potro double faulted and then used that momentum to comfortably win the tie-break 7-2 and set up a decider.
In the final set, Del Potro could not gather any momentum as he was broken thrice by the Australian. In the end, Del Potro double faulted on match point to hand the Australian his first top ten win on Arthur Ashe Stadium since beating Pete Sampras in the 2001 final. Hewitt won 6-4, 5-7, 3-6, 7-6 (7-2), 6-1 over the sixth seed in four hours three minutes.
“It was unbelievable atmosphere. I just kept fighting and putting it out there. You know, I kept coming at him the whole night. Felt like I was seeing the ball well. Felt like I played a good game plan for most of the night as well,” Hewitt said.
“Through the fourth set I felt like even though I was down on the scoreboard two sets to one, I felt like I was getting in more of his service games, holding a little bit more comfortable. Possibly he was getting that half a step slower through that fourth set. Was good to get the break, but he played a great game to break me back.”
Progress of the seeds:
Men’s draw:
Novak Djokovic continued his US Open campaign with a straight sets 7-6(2), 6-2, 6-2 victory over Benjamin Becker. Djokovic had to struggle early in the match, with Becker serving for the first set, but the gritty Serb held his nerve to take the set to a tie break. From then on though it was one way traffic as the number 1 seed raced away with the match.
“It was a struggle. It was different conditions from the first match, and, you know, I knew that he’s a dangerous player. If he serves well and high percentage, he can be dangerous player,” the Serbian said after his match.