Hewitt Wins Baseline Duel 
Monday, June 28, 2004

Lleyton Hewitt marched forward to what promises to be a classic quarter-final against Roger Federer, the man who succeeded him as Wimbledon Champion. To do so, the 23-year-old Australian had to win another classic by defeating Carlos Moya of Spain 6-4, 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (7-3) in two hours and 45 minutes in a contest  that was a Wimbledon rarity, a baseline duel from start to finish.

While the Spaniard had the edge in power, delivering 14 aces to Hewitt's four, it was the 2002 Champion's non-stop involvement and never-say-die spirit that eventually wore down the man who had won the French Open in 1998. Having met nine times previously (with Moya coming into the match leading 5-4), each knew what to expect of the other. What they delivered on Centre Court was a marvellous contest of the arts of tennis from the back of the court.

In winning all his previous three matches in straight sets, Hewitt had not dropped serve but he quickly came close against Moya, surviving two break points in the fifth game of the opening set. The danger was fought off, a break went the way of the Australian and he was a set up with the match 38 minutes old.

Although Moya was stronger off the ground and comfortably out-hit Hewitt when it came to aces, it was the speed and commitment of Hewitt  that continued to dominate the match in the second set. Whenever an opportunity to break presented itself, the Australian pounced and he won  the last four games of the second set to take a stranglehold on the match, the first between these two on grass. Such was Hewitt's domination that he conceded only two points on serve in the second set and a rapid victory seemed his for the taking.

However, bearing in mind his shock first round exit last year to Ivo Karlovic on the opening day of The Championships, Hewitt was not carried away by his early superiority. Just as well, since Moya promptly pulled off a break of serve at the start of the third set, the first time Hewitt had been broken at Wimbledon this year, when the Australian netted a backhand.

The feisty Hewitt bounced back to level matters at 2-2 but at this stage of the match Moya was in the ascendancy. He missed two break points for a 3-2 lead but underlined his growing confidence by breaking for a second time to set up a 5-4 lead. Fighting off a typical Hewitt counter-attack that involved two break-back points, he served out for the third set.

The fourth set was a fascinating contest between two of the finest baseliners in the game. Hewitt broke to lead 4-2, Moya broke right back to put the set on even keel. The Australian missed a match point at 5-4, hurling his racket to the ground after netting a backhand,  and the set went to a tiebreak.

Here Hewitt finally stamped his authority on the afternoon, securing an early mini-break, following up with another to go 5-2 ahead , moving to match point with a smash and earning his victory when a tiring Moya projected a tame forehand into the net.
Written by Ronald Atkin