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If their last match is any indication, it may pay to set your alarm clock. Lleyton Hewitt will play Marcos Baghdatis on Thursday for a place in the Sydney International semi-finals after the Australian powered past Andreas Seppi.
The former world No.1 looked in ominous touch during his 6-0 6-2 trouncing of the Italian on Wednesday, the brevity of the match potentially helpful given the last epic played out between the Cypriot and the South Australian.
The five set classic at the 2008 Australian Open – won by Hewitt – isn’t just remembered for the quality of play and the length of the clash.
It was also completed at 4.34am to ensure its place as the latest finishing match in grand slam history.
Hewitt chuckled at the unlikely prospect of another match ever going that late, but said the fixture was firmly stuck in his head.
“It was different. Hopefully it never happens again to anyone,” he said of the finishing time.
“I would have wanted to wipe it out of my memory box if I’d lost the match in five sets but obviously winning an epic match in your home grand slam, stuff like that always stays in the back of your mind.”
Baghdatis had a slightly tougher time in his match against Serb Viktor Troicki, but ultimately showed in the 7-5 6-3 result he is getting back to the kind of form that saw him reach the Australian Open final in 2006.
The world No.42, who struggled with injuries early in 2009 and dropped out of the top 100 before a strong second half of the year, saw similarities between he and Hewitt’s push to get back into the top echelons of the sport.
“He’s on fire, so I think he can play great tennis,” said Baghdatis, who admitted sneaking a look at Hewitt’s impressive first set on Wednesday.
“It’s just he has to keep healthy. It’s not very easy, because a lot of guys now are more fit.
“It’s a tougher, more physical game than before, so it’s not that easy.”
It proved a good day for the local contingent with Peter Luczak a surprise 1-6 6-4 6-2 winner over second seed Tomas Berdych.
Comprehensively outclassed in the first set of the match, wildcard Luczak was then much more patient in the gusty conditions.
Up 4-3 in the second set, an epic eighth game when on serve proved pivotal for the Polish born player, Luczak holding and then crushing the confidence of the Czech world No.20.
He’ll now take on Mardy Fish in a quarter-final on Thursday night after the American’s 6-1 6-2 win over Evgeny Korolev.
In Wednesday’s earlier matches former world No.7 Richard Gasquet of France strolled to a straight sets victory over eighth seed Benjamin Becker of Germany.
France’s Julien Benneteau downed lucky loser Taylor Dent after Swiss third seed Stanislas Wawrinka pulled out their match with a neck complaint.
There were also second round victories for Potito Starace of Italy and Argentina’s Leonardo Meyer.
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