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There was no win and no boost to his ranking, but Lleyton Hewitt remained upbeat after his tilt at a fifth Sydney International title was scuppered by Marcos Baghdatis on Thursday.
The former world No.1 met his counterpunching match in the Cypriot, who rallied from a set and a break down to advance to the semi-finals with a 4-6 6-2 6-3 win.
With few rankings points to defend here or at next week’s Australian Open, the door was open for the South Australian to put in some more groundwork towards reclaiming a spot in the world’s top ten.
And while he failed to improve on last year’s result in Sydney and lost the opportunity for more match practice ahead of the Open, Hewitt said it mattered little going into the first major of the year.
“It’s definitely not a major drama the week before a slam,” Hewitt said.
“A lot of people question whether playing four or five extremely tough matches in heat is the best preparation anyway.
“For me, it’s (losing) not a huge drama.”
Unseeded at the Australian Open last year, Hewitt was subject to the whims of the draw from round one, handed and eventually losing to Fernando Gonzalez in his first hit out.
That’s not the case this year given his No.22 ranking but Hewitt seemed non-plussed about what Friday’s draw might have in store.
“You’ve always got to step up in slams anyway,” he said.
“That’s what I pride myself on and always tried to play my best tennis.
“After you come back from injuries and you’ve been world No.1 and won slams before, that’s what drives me, tournaments like next week.
“I’ll be doing everything in my power to get through the first week and we’ll see what happens.”
What happened on Thursday was predictable given the pair had a five set classic the last time they met in the 2008 Australian Open.
Hewitt started in promising fashion, breaking Baghdatis early in the first set and hanging tough as the Cypriot pushed to level the scores.
The South Australian held firm, took the set and then stole a break and a 2-1 lead in the second set.
But Baghdatis lifted his play to reel off six straight games, taking the set and a 1-0 lead in the third.
A solitary service break was then enough to secure the decider for the 2006 Australian Open finalist who finished off Hewitt with an ace.
Baghdatis will now take on the winner of the Peter Luczak-Mardy Fish quarter-final being played Thursday night.
Meanwhile former world No.7 Richard Gasquet booked a semi-final spot for a second successive year after beating Italy’s Potito Starace 6-3 7-6 (9-7).
Gasquet looked in fine touch, showing the class that made him a top 10 player before his two-and-a-half month ban after testing positive to cocaine last year.
He’ll meet countryman Julien Benneteau after his 6-4 6-7 (5-7) 6-0 win over Argentine Leonardo Mayer.
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