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Murray and Robson into mixed doubles semi after dispatching Aussie duo

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Murray and Robson into mixed doubles semi after dispatching Aussie duo

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UPDATED:

13:16 GMT, 4 August 2012

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MEDALS TABLE

Andy Murray and Laura Robson thrilled the Centre Court crowd at Wimbledon by reaching the Olympic mixed doubles semi-finals.

The British pair managed an unexpected victory over Australian opponents, holding their nerve to beat Lleyton Hewitt and Samantha Stosur 6-3, 3-6, 10-8.

The pair looked confident in the opening set but Hewitt and Stosur, both grand slam singles champions, showed their class to level the match.

All smiles: Andy Murray and Laura Robson salute the partisan Centre Court crowd

All smiles: Andy Murray and Laura Robson salute the partisan Centre Court crowd

In tandem: Murray puts away a volley at the net as Robson patrols the baseline

In tandem: Murray puts away a volley at the net as Robson patrols the baseline

The first point of the match tie-break
had to be replayed as a ball girl mistakenly ran across the court when
she wrongly thought the point had finished.

It looked as though victory might slip
away from the British pair, with men's singles finalist Murray letting
out a howl of frustration as he and Robson slipped 7-5 down in the
tie-break.

On a roll: Laura Robson and Andy Murray saw off the challenge of Sam Stosur and Lleyton Hewitt

On a roll: Laura Robson and Andy Murray saw off the challenge of Sam Stosur and Lleyton Hewitt

Down and out: Lleyton Hewit and Sam Stosur react after defeat

Down and out: Lleyton Hewit and Sam Stosur react after defeat

But they pulled it back to secure a
place in a semi-final against Germany's Sabine Lisicki and Christopher
Kas, scheduled to take place later this afternoon.

Wimbledon 2012: Andy Murray tipped to reach final by Tim Henman

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It's in your hands, Andy! Henman tips Murray to lay ghosts of distant past against Tsonga

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UPDATED:

22:12 GMT, 5 July 2012

Few are more aware of Wimbledon and its traditions than Tim Henman, patron saint of British semi-finalists, but even he can take only so much.

‘I have heard Fred Perry and Bunny Austin talked about for long enough,’ he declared. ‘I would be pretty happy for that conversation to end.’

Perry was the last home men’s winner in 1936, Austin the last men’s home finalist in 1938 — Henman is right that they have been venerated for a very long time and he would love Andy Murray to be the one who makes them a little less memorable.

Take it easy with those serves! Andy Murray has been urged by his coach, Ivan Lendl, to protect the strain on his shoulder by limiting his practice serves during major championships

Take it easy with those serves! Andy Murray has been urged by his coach, Ivan Lendl, to protect the strain on his shoulder by limiting his practice serves during major championships

When he takes on Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Murray will equal Henman’s mark of competing in the last four on four separate occasions and it is tempting to think that, of their eight semi-finals combined, this one presents the most realistic chance of progress towards the ultimate prize.

Henman, now 37 and commentating for the BBC, twice faced Pete Sampras, once Lleyton Hewitt and once Goran Ivanisevic. Murray has had two against Rafael Nadal, one against Andy Roddick and now an encounter with the fifth seed.

For both men, two of those — the Sampras and Nadal matches —seemed improbable assignments, the other three were more realistic opportunities and now along comes a match which looks the most winnable of the lot.

While Tsonga is ranked higher than either Roddick or Ivanisevic was, the circumstances are more promising, based on what has been going on at this sometimes turbulent Wimbledon.

Talking tactics: Murray listens to his coach, Ivan Lendl, during a training session in SW19

Talking tactics: Murray listens to his coach, Ivan Lendl, during a training session in SW19

For Henman, who took Murray under his wing when the shy teenager joined Britain’s Davis Cup team, there is no doubt his friend deserves to cross the massive divide that the next three days present.

‘He is a better player than I ever was, better equipped to go further,’ Henman said. ‘It’s great to see him playing so well at the right time. He is ready. Given the intensity of his last match and the opportunities Ferrer had, the way he stuck in there, it was his best performance at Wimbledon.

‘To come back out at the end of the rain break and pick up at the level he left off was very impressive.’

These are days when Ivan Lendl really earns his money, as drawing the best out of his charge in the second week of Grand Slams was what it was really all about when the audacious move to hire him was made in December.

Firepower: Murray is better equipped to win Wimbledon than he ever was, admits Tim Henman

Firepower: Murray is better equipped to win Wimbledon than he ever was, admits Tim Henman

Henman believes that could be a crucial factor: ‘I think it will be important. When you have someone in your corner who has been to 20 Grand Slam finals and lost his first four (Murray has lost three), just that voice of wisdom and reassurance will be great for Andy to have.’

Lendl has been far more than a manager or psychologist for Murray, though, and in the wake of Wednesday’s thrilling four-set win over Ferrer the 25-year-old Scot revealed one of the training innovations.

A striking feature of Murray’s progress this fortnight has been the improvement in his serve and it turns out it may be the result of a Lendl adage that less can be more in this department.

Fourth time lucky


Murray v Tsonga: vital statistics

‘Ironically, I hit a lot less serves than I used to,’ he said. ‘Ivan is more of the opinion that you need to rest your shoulder and make sure it is loose, not tired, when you go out on the court and into tournaments because over the course of two weeks you hit thousands of serves.

‘So I’ve hit fewer since we started working and maybe that’s a reason I am serving well deeper into the tournament. We’ve worked a lot on the second serve. Against Ferrer it wasn’t always about the pace. I was getting a lot of kick on it and making him hit high returns that he struggled with.’
Another change has been with the tactics board.

Rest up: Murray takes a seat after practice with Lendl and his team on Thursday

Rest up: Murray takes a seat after practice with Lendl and the rest of his team on Thursday

In Murray's path: Jo-Wilfried Tsonga

In Murray's path: Jo-Wilfried Tsonga

‘I now talk tactics with him the
night before a match. You still speak 40 minutes before as well but
we’ve started to talk the night before so I can process it. Someone like
him is very exact, he doesn’t miss anything and gives lots of
information.’

If both
players perform to their levels of the last 11 days then Murray will
win, but Tsonga is dangerous because his form can blow in like a
tornado on a calm summer’s day.

For instance, in the French Open quarter-finals four weeks ago against Novak Djokovic he lost the first set 6-1 in 21 minutes and three hours later held four match points in the fourth set before bookending the match with another 6-1 reverse.

He has caused Murray trouble on grass before, notably in the Wimbledon quarter-final two years ago, when the British player was lucky that another brainstorm intervened.

Tsonga was leading 7-6, 6-6 and was at 5-5 in the tiebreak when he left a looping ball deliberately, only to see it land almost inside the baseline like a snowflake. Murray went on to seize the initiative and run off with the remainder of the match.

Murray’s supreme defensive skills ought to frustrate Tsonga sufficiently, but the Brit is the one with everything to lose. If he can withstand that pressure then Austin’s ghost will be laid to rest… and then it will be time to think about Perry’s.

Wimbledon 2012: Andy Murray and Marin Cilic frustrated by rain

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Murray under a cloud: As big guns rest up Andy could be Court out again

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UPDATED:

23:35 GMT, 2 July 2012

Predictably, the best place to be on Monday was on Centre Court, preferably under the roof, and the best place to be on Tuesday is safely through to the quarter-finals and resting up, as is the situation for Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer.

Most other people will have to take their chance with the weather, including Andy Murray, who now faces a minimum of four days’ play out of six if he is to achieve his Wimbledon dream.

At least he has been able to make a start on the job, progressing to 7-5, 3-1 and 40-0 against Croat Marin Cilic before this country’s apology for a summer put an early end to proceedings shortly after 4pm.

On top: Andy Murray was leading when his match with Marin Cilic was called off

On top: Andy Murray was leading when his match with Marin Cilic was called off

This afternoon he would like to enjoy the comfort of his prospective opponent in the next round — either David Ferrer or Juan Martin del Potro — who know they are guaranteed a result as they play under the roof at midday.

The Spaniard and Argentine were displeased at being called off early last night and made their feelings known to ATP officials before packing up and trudging home, but at least they appear to have achieved something by making their feelings known.

As for Murray, he might wish he was afforded the same treatment as Lleyton Hewitt at the Australian Open, who has not been off the main Rod Laver Arena since before 2001, a total of 37 consecutive matches.

The British No 1 will have to pick up where he left off after the 69 minutes that were possible against the 6ft 6in Croat, who will have been grateful for the respite after struggling on Monday.

Another go: Cilic and Murray will be first out on No 1 court

Another go: Cilic and Murray will be first out on No 1 court

We all know you need a few breaks to win a first Grand Slam and the 25-year-old will hope they come in the form of sufficient breaks in the cloud to allow him time to finish the job and set himself up for tomorrow’s task, which would surely see him restored to Wimbledon’s main arena.

It was unusual that last week Murray was not given his obligatory one appearance out on Court No 1 — which is a fair enough principle — and that could prove injurious to his title hopes in the event of major downpours in the next 24 hours.

On the evidence of yesterday, Cilic is there for the taking but a difference today could be that he will have shaken off more of the lingering stiffness from his Saturday marathon against Sam Querrey.

Going into a second day: Murray will hope to get the game wrapped up early on Tuesday

Going into a second day: Murray will hope to get the game wrapped up early on Tuesday

What Murray has to avoid is a repeat of the first two games when he was uptight and vulnerable to the flourishes of the 16th seed, whose forehand veers from being a deadly weapon to a scattergun.

The tell-tale sign of Murray’s discomfort — one we have barely seen to date in this tournament — was him clutching at his left hip twice after making a mistake, the reflex action that gives away to everyone, including his opponent, that he is not moving how he would like to.

Watching on: Murray's girlfriend Kim Sears watches on

Watching on: Murray's girlfriend Kim Sears watches on

Cilic is dangerous and arrived here having won at Queen’s Club. It is a small detail that he received the assistance of David Nalbandian’s near assault on a linesman in the final to lift the trophy — just to get there shows that he knows his way around a grass court. Luckily he gifted a break straight back with a series of sloppy errors, and that fortified Murray, although there was a close call at 4-4 when he created a break point, only for Murray to save it with an ace.

Sitting in the rain: Spectators shelter from the rain under umbrellas on 'Murray Mount'

Sitting in the rain: Spectators shelter from the rain under umbrellas on 'Murray Mount'

Slowly Murray, happy to assume his counter-punching role, sucked Cilic into his web and displayed his brilliant defensive capabilities by retrieving his opponent’s drives from deep behind the baseline.

At 6-5 up he broke to love to clinch the set, benefiting from a wide forehand on the last point and planting in Cilic’s mind the memory of his five defeats out of six against the world No 4. Murray broke again to go 3-1 up in the second set and there looked only one winner until the skies, threatening all day, started to weep.

The forecast had been worse so it was a case of being grateful for small mercies.

Among it all there are some good signs for the Scot here. Coach Ivan Lendl’s work on his serve looks to be paying a dividend, with him winning 56 per cent of points on his second delivery and landing his first one in two thirds of the time.

All this and more will be needed if he is to wade his way through what looks like some heavy going in the second week.

Wimbledon 2012 Bernard Tomic"s tantrum sums up Australia"s day

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Court report: Tomic's tantrum sums up Aussie men's worst Wimbledon showing since 1938

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UPDATED:

22:31 GMT, 26 June 2012

Defeats for Lleyton Hewitt, Bernard Tomic and Matthew Ebden mean there are no Australian men in the second round here for the first time since 1938. And defeat was not exactly handled with dignity. Last year’s quarter-finalist Tomic smashed two rackets and was roundly booed as he lost in four sets to Belgium’s David Goffin.

Miserable as a bandicoot: Bernard Tomic loses his rag

Miserable as a bandicoot: Bernard Tomic loses his rag

Home comforts

Wimbledon village offers a host of
eateries for the players after a hard day’s work. Andy Murray likes
sushi or Pizza Express and Andy Roddick has a a favourite Thai
restaurant. But Heather Watson celebrated her inaugural win at SW19 with
homemade food. ‘I’m staying with a family nearby and they cook the most
amazing meals,’ Heather told Court Report.

Joy for George

George
Morgan, 19, thought qualifying for the men’s doubles would be the
highlight of his fortnight. But the 2011 junior doubles champion had the
honour of being Roger Federer’s hitting partner. Morgan looked assured
throughout and said after: ‘It was great.’

A big hand: Roger Federer gets to grips with George Morgan

A big hand: Roger Federer gets to grips with George Morgan

Strife of Brian Brian
Baker has had to wait a while for his Wimbledon debut — but he made it
count. The 27-year-old stopped playing in 2005 and had a string of
operations for various injuries. ‘I had two left hip surgeries, one
right hip surgery, elbow reconstruction and then sports hernia surgery,’
said the American. But he started playing again last year and beat Rui
Machado in straight sets.Special Kei

Scrum of the day was on Court 14, where a significant percentage of Japan’s population gathered to watch their golden boy Kei Nishikori. The exciting No 19 seed duly delivered, seeing off Mikhail Kukushkin in straight sets. That was the easy part. Trying to get off the court and back to the locker room through the excitable crowd was far tougher, as autograph books and cameras were thrust in his face. It all made Roger and Rafa look unpopular.

Rising san: Kei Nishikori serves against Mikhail Kukushkin, to the delight of his female follwers (below)

Rising san: Kei Nishikori serves against Mikhail Kukushkin, to the delight of his female follwers (below)

Rising san: Kei Nishikori serves against Mikhail Kukushkin, to the delight of his female follwers

No rush for Kvitova

Yes, Petra Kvitova came from almost nowhere to win the women’s title last year. But it seems a little odd that, such is the anonymity of the fourth-seeded Czech, only one English-speaking journalist attended the post-match press conference after her 6-4, 6-4 first-round win over Akgul Amanmuradova of Uzbekistan. A decent exclusive for him but a reminder that Kvitova will have to win a few more to deflect attention from Sharapova, Wozniacki and Co.

Wimbledon 2012: Jamie Baker will find it tough against Andy Roddick

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The Locker Room: Tough task for Brit Baker against Roddick

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UPDATED:

21:30 GMT, 25 June 2012

British No 3 Jamie Baker is third up on Court No 1 against three-time finalist Andy Roddick, the American who won the Wimbledon warm-up event at Eastbourne on Sunday.

There’s no doubt Roddick is nowhere near his US Open winning best, but it will still be very tough for world No 186 Baker.

It will also be a challenge for Laura Robson who takes on former French Open champion Francesca Schiavone on Court 3.

Task: Jamie Baker has a tricky opponent to navigate

Task: Jamie Baker has a tricky opponent to navigate

Seed in danger

Fifth seed Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who came back from two sets down to beat Roger Federer at last year’s Wimbledon, faces a tough first-round clash against 2002 champion and eternal battler Lleyton Hewitt. Aussie Hewitt was blown away by Ivo Karlovic at Queen’s but has been given a wildcard and is always a dangerous opponent.

Groundpass bonus

It’s a good job Alex Bogomolov Jnr against Alexandr Dolgopolov starts at 11.30am on Court 7.

You wouldn’t fancy trying to pronounce those names after too many glasses of Pimm’s.

Seeds of trouble: Jo-Wilfried Tsonga must concentrate

Seeds of trouble: Jo-Wilfried Tsonga must concentrate

Weather forecast

Bright spells in the morning with a chance of light rain. But as the day progresses it will become increasingly cloudy and overcast. Temperatures will also be lower than Monday, peaking in the evening at 18C, with light winds throughout the afternoon.

Where to watch

TV: BBC2 coverage starts at 11.30am and then again at 5.50pm. While BBC1 join in at 1.45pm. Today at Wimbledon at 8pm on BBC2.

Radio: BBC 5 Live from midday.

Wimbledon 2012: David Nalbandian booted out by Janko Tipsarevic

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Queen's bad boy Nalbandian booted out of Wimbledon by in-form Tipsarevic

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UPDATED:

16:00 GMT, 25 June 2012

Argentinian David Nalbandian was on his best behaviour but slipped out of Wimbledon after a first-round defeat to Janko Tipsarevic.

Nalbandian was disqualified from the AEGON Championships final eight days ago after kicking an advertising hoarding against a line judge's leg, costing him his prize-money and a fine from the ATP, who run the men's tour.

Police launched an investigation after a complaint of alleged assault was made against Nalbandian, and confirmed that a 30-year-old man, understood to be Nalbandian, was interviewed over the injury he caused to line judge Andrew McDougall at Queen's Club.

Bad day: David Nalbandian reacts during his first-round defeat at Wimbledon

Bad day: David Nalbandian reacts during his first-round defeat at Wimbledon

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: 'We were made aware of an incident at the Aegon Championships on Sunday 17 June.

'A complaint was made and the MPS [Metropolitan Police Service] are now investigating.

'On Tuesday 19 June a 30-year-old man attended a West London Police Station by appointment in connection with an allegation of assault.

'He was interviewed under caution.

Safely through: Tipsarevic celebrates beating Nalbandian on Monday

Safely through: Tipsarevic celebrates beating Nalbandian on Monday

'Enquiries continue and there have been no arrests.'

The 30-year-old kept his cool but he groaned out of frustration on several occasions as he fell to a 6-4 7-6 (7/4) 6-2 defeat against eighth seed Tipsarevic.

Nalbandian, runner-up to Lleyton Hewitt at Wimbledon in 2002, spurned five early break points and Tipsarevic took full advantage, breaking in the seventh game before winning the set.

How's the shin Injured line judge Andrew McDougall officiates at the match between Fernando Verdasco and Jimmy Wang on Monday

How's the shin Injured line judge Andrew McDougall officiates at the match between Fernando Verdasco and Jimmy Wang at SW19 on Monday

Both players broke each other's serve in the second set, causing a tie-break, which Tipsarevic won after two mini-breaks.

Serbian Tipsarevic wasted five break points in the third set but took a sixth when crashing a backhand in to the corner after a weak serve.

Careful, David! Nalbandian questions the chair umpire during his defeat

Careful, David! Nalbandian questions the chair umpire during his defeat

Serving to stay in the match, Nalbandian buckled, placing an easy forehand wide to seal his demise.

Nalbandian graciously accepted defeat, embracing his opponent before shaking hands with the umpire.

Australian Open 2012: Andy Murray in with a big shout, yells Ivan Lendl

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Murray is in with a big shout, yells Lendl with Andy set for Nishikori showdown

As grand schemes go it must be said that the partnership between Ivan Lendl and Andy Murray is shaping up rather well so far.

The odd couple are getting along swimmingly, Murray is starting to run into impressive form and the draw for the Australian Open has thus far been kind and parted obligingly, even if he has missed out on his usual butchery of Frenchmen.

Next up for Murray is world No 26 Kei Nishikori who, while being the best player Japan has produced in the modern era, is a Grand Slam quarter-final opponent you would settle for, his place gained by knocking out sixth seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in five sets.

Things are looking up: Andy Murray is into the quarter-finals in Melbourne

Things are looking up: Andy Murray is into the quarter-finals in Melbourne

Even Murray's potential semi-final opponent, world No 1 Novak Djokovic, showed some signs of vulnerability as he dropped a set in beating local hero Lleyton Hewitt 6-1, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3.

Murray's passage was secured in contrastingly easy fashion, detained on court almost longer for his post-match interview than he was by Kazakhstan's Mikhail Kukushkin, who retired with a hip injury after 49 minutes when trailing 6-1, 6-1, 1-0 and without winning his own serve.

Not that Lendl is claiming to be any miracle worker at this point, and he has struck a note of caution. This is where the tricky business starts, and when he starts earning his money.

'I wasn't hired to get Andy to the
quarters, we all know that,' he frankly admitted. 'He's done that before
without me and he could do that without me again.

Smiles better: Ivan Lendl watched Murray cruise past Mikhail Kukushkin

Smiles better: Ivan Lendl watched Murray cruise past Mikhail Kukushkin

'Hopefully, I can help Andy, whether
it's talking to me, drawing on my experience, helping him a bit here and
there to go to the next step, that's the goal.'

Lendl also conceded his adrenaline had yet to get running properly, sitting in the coach's box.

'I think that would be the wrong way. You have to keep the temperature level. To get excited now would be a mistake.'

In fact, it was all so relaxed on Monday that he amused himself and the Murray team by covering the remote 'coach-cam' trained on him with a towel and a cap, making it vaguely resemble a human head. He finds all the attention somewhat tedious.

Next up: Kei Nishikori lies in wait for Murray after he beat Jo-Wilfried Tsonga

Next up: Kei Nishikori lies in wait for Murray after he beat Jo-Wilfried Tsonga

'It's not right because it's about Andy, it's not about me,' he said. 'That's what I meant when I said it took courage for Andy to hire me.'

So it has all been about a small tweak here and there, with the most obvious change being Murray's calm on-court demeanour and the absence of any ranting at his bench.

KEI BLOCKS THE WAY

Can't say I know a lot about Kei Nishikori. Where's he from

Shimane, in Japan, although at 14 he won a scholarship to the Bollettieri Academy in Florida, where he arrived not speaking a word of English.

Tennis in the family

No, his mother is a piano teacher and his father an engineer.

Big lad, is he

He's 5ft 10in, small for a modern tennis player, but packs a big punch from the baseline.

I can't think of too many Japanese tennis superstars.

They're quite successful in the women's game, but the last man of note was Shuzo Matsuoka, who reached the top 50 in the 1990s. Kei, 22, is their highest ranked player at 26.

No pressure, then.

Tennis is quite a popular sport in Japan, and they have not had an Australian Open quarter-finalist since 1932. They await a champion, a bit like us.

Why haven't we heard more about Nishikori

He showed great promise at 18 but in 2009 was struck down with an elbow injury. He is only starting to fulfil his potential now.

Fast riser

Last year he cut his ranking from 98 to 25, and he will be in the top 20 after this tournament.

Any links with Murray

Nishikori has been coached by the Scot's former mentor Brad Gilbert, although he uses him only as a part-time consultant now.

Could he spring a surprise

He played Murray, in October and lost 6-3, 6-0. He has improved, but probably not enough.

Lendl is very reluctant to get into any discussion on that, but said: 'You've been around enough, you can see what is happening on the court.'

He added with a smile: 'I can always yell back.'

Another, less obvious change after eight days at their first Grand Slam together is that he has changed Murray's preparation habits, advising him to train away from Melbourne Park in the peace and quiet of the Kooyong Club.

Before, Murray used to enjoy hanging around and shooting the breeze with his peers, but he has become lesser spotted during this tournament.

'I used to do it this way here, at the French Open and at Flushing Meadows,' said Lendl. 'Any day that you don't come in here it takes less out of you mentally and physically. You don't have people tugging away at you. '

And in the evenings, it's not suffocating. They are not living in each other's pockets.

'Kim (Sears, Murray's girlfriend) is here, they do their own thing for dinner,' revealed Lendl.

'I'm here if he needs me and wants to talk.

'Most of the time I go to the food court, get something to eat and go to bed.'

Lendl is wise not to get carried away when you see the form that has been shown by the other players vying for the title. But Murray is on course to reach what would be an impressive seventh semi-final in his last nine Grand Slams entered.

In a hurry: Murray exerted little energy in progressing past Kukushkin

In a hurry: Murray exerted little energy in progressing past Kukushkin

The only time he has played Nishikori before was in the semi-finals of the Shanghai Masters, when he allowed the Japanese just three games, but the 22-year-old has upped his level and fitness and recorded a win over Djokovic two weeks afterwards. Murray is aware of the danger he represents.

'He's very deceptive, he creates a lot of power from the back of the court, moves well,' said Murray. 'He was dictating the points from the back of the court against Tsonga, which is not easy to do.'

The question is how much playing such a physical match over three-and-a-half hours in the full heat of the day might have taken out of him.

No such worries for the 24-year-old Scot, who felt the need for extra practice after brushing past Kukushkin, even in temperatures of 30C-plus.

It was a day when Lendl's famous legionnaire's sunhat would have been in order, but that is one change he will not be forcing on his new client.

Australian Open 2012: Novak Djokovic beats Lleyton Hewitt to reach quarter finals

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Brave Hewitt no match for Djokovic as defending champion books last eight place

Lleyton Hewitt rolled back the years tonight to deliver a typically gutsy display but it was not enough to derail Novak Djokovic's title defence at the Australian Open.

Hewitt looked down and out at two sets and 3-0 down but he stormed back to take the contest to a fourth set in which the world number one showed battling qualities of his own to edge through 6-1, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 in nearly three hours.

For so long, it was one-way traffic with Hewitt looking flat and tired after his exertions against Andy Roddick and Milos Raonic in the previous rounds.

Well played: Lleyton Hewitt congratulates defending champion Novak Djokovic after the Serb booked his place in the last eight

Well played: Lleyton Hewitt congratulates defending champion Novak Djokovic after the Serb booked his place in the last eight

And Djokovic took full advantage, three breaks handing him the first set and three more moving him two sets up.

And when he won the first three games of the third, it seemed just a matter of time before victory was secured.

But, from nowhere, Hewitt found some
form and, all of a sudden, Djokovic looked rattled. The 30-year-old from
Adelaide, twice a grand slam champion, dragged it back to 3-3, broke
again for a 5-4 lead and then served it out.

Drop it like it's hot: World No 1 Djokovic swoops across court to return to Hewitt

Drop it like it's hot: World No 1 Djokovic swoops across court to return to Hewitt

And when Djokovic faced another break
point in the third game of the fourth set, the comeback looked set to
continue. But the Serbian held his nerve to win the game and with that
he regained the momentum.

He claimed the Hewitt serve to go 4-2 up and it proved a lead he would not relinquish.

'I have to give credit to my opponent who never gives up,' said Djokovic.

Fight back: Home favourite Hewitt manged to take the third set off of Djokovic

Fight back: Home favourite Hewitt manged to take the third set off of Djokovic

Alex Kay Talks Tennis

'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.'

Thumbs up: Djokovic will play Spaniard David Ferrer in the quarter-final

Thumbs up: Djokovic will play Spaniard David Ferrer in the quarter-final

Next for Djokovic is a meeting with fifth seed David Ferrer in the last eight.

The Spaniard was an impressive winner, beating the dangerous Richard Gasquet 6-4, 6-4, 6-1.

The other quarter-final in the top half will be between Andy Murray and Kei Nishikori after both men progressed.

Australian Open 2012: Roger Federer defeats Bernard Tomic

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Federer tames tyro Tomic but Aussie youngster looks set for stardom

If Roger Federer had lost his Australian Open fourth round match to Bernard Tomic it would doubtless have been heralded as the beginning of the end for probably the greatest player of his or any other generation.

Instead he handed out a lesson with a 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 victory, and the only thing we could be sure of is that it represented the end of the beginning for the 19-year-old Australian.

For Tomic has now shown that his Wimbledon quarter-final appearance was far from a one-off and his rapid improvement suggests that it will not be long before he is a significant star in his own right.

Imperious: Roger Federer swept aside Bernard Tomic to reach the last eight

Imperious: Roger Federer swept aside Bernard Tomic to reach the last eight

He looked a little weary after losing the first set, and the anticlimactic 1hr 44min contest proved the kind of easy win that marked the first week for the top seeds.

Good old Lleyton Hewitt, trying to avoid annihilation by Novak Djokovic on Monday, was left as the last man standing for Australia, but that will surely not be the case a year from now.

Tomic, with his graceful, unorthodox style that makes it look like he is caressing the ball, is on the way up, and although he disappointed the nation in this much-hyped encounter, Federer knows he will be a force.

‘You can see how much progress he has made in the last four or five months,’ said Federer. ‘He is going to be a great player but the important thing is to let him get on with it. When I was 19 I was being anointed as the next Pete Sampras when I hadn’t even won a title and all I could think was, “Please, just give me a little more time”. That’s what Bernard needs.’

Dejected: Aussie Tomic was devastated after his straight-sets defeat

Dejected: Aussie Tomic was devastated after his straight-sets defeat

Tomic has established himself at the head of a group of young talents such as Canada’s Milos Raonic, Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov and Murray’s American first-round victim Ryan Harrison, who are on course to mount a challenge to the biggest names in the next few years.

For now the lower half of the men’s quarter-finals has a predictable enough line-up that will see Federer playing his 1,000th career match, meeting the resurgent 2009 US Open champion Juan Martin Del Potro, whom he viewed as a potential world No 1 before a wrist injury struck him down.

Rafael Nadal, who won comfortably against Feliciano Lopez, also has an awkward task, taking on former Wimbledon finalist Tomas Berdych, who was involved in a bad-tempered encounter with Nicolas Almagro.

In form: Rafael Nadal also made steady progress as he beat Feliciano Lopez

In form: Rafael Nadal also made steady progress as he beat Feliciano Lopez

The normally placid Berdych refused to shake his opponent’s hand at the end after being incensed by an incident in the fourth set when Almagro drilled the ball at his upper body from close range by the net. His declining of the Spaniard’s hand brought about a cacophony of booing during the on-court interview afterwards. Berdych was actually hit on the shoulder and, as Almagro hit the ball on the run, was being somewhat flaky.

But the Czech felt it could have been worse: ‘The court is pretty big and there’s always space to place the ball, even if you stand three of four metres apart. He tried to hit it straight in my face. I was lucky it just hit me on the arm,’ he insisted.

There was drama of a less controversial nature as Kim Clijsters, in a repeat of last year’s final against Li Na, saved four match points from 6-2 down in the tiebreak to reach the quarter -finals with a 4-6, 7-6, 6-4 win.

The Chinese player should have won on the last of them when she had the court at her mercy but instead tried a hopelessly misjudged drop-shot.

Hewitt to give home fans a taste of the past with Djokovic clash

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Hewitt to give home fans a taste of the past with Djokovic clash

Tears for cheers: Hewitt's emotional curtain call

Tears for cheers: Hewitt's emotional curtain call

Lleyton Hewitt wept on Saturday when,
against all the odds, he offered himself an opportunity to take an
emotional curtain call against world No 1 Novak Djokovic at the
Australian Open.

Hewitt, 30, who has carried the flag
for Australian tennis for the past dozen years, required the
benevolence of a wildcard to participate in his 16th successive
Australian Open, after he plunged to No 181 in the world.

He rewarded those who kept the faith by defeating Milos Raonic 4-6, 6-3, 7-6, 6-3.

Whatever
happens against Djokovic – and it is improbable that former world No 1
Hewitt will do much other than a great deal of walking across his own
baseline – he has earned the right to leave the stage with his head held
high.

Hewitt recognised how close Djokovic had been to completing the Grand Slam, an accomplishment last fulfilled by Australia's lord of the courts, Rod Laver, in 1968.

'It took an unbelievable effort from Roger Federer to beat Djokovic in the semi-finals at the French Open, otherwise Novak could have had the Grand Slam,' said Hewitt.

Djokovic had caused Nicolas Mahut's capitulation in 74 minutes of public humiliation on Saturday.

Defeat: Milos Raonic

Victory: Lleyton Hewitt

Game of emotions: Milos Raonic (left) beaten easily by Austrailia's Hewitt (right)

This was the same Mahut who featured in the longest-ever match at Wimbledon 19 months ago, when the Frenchman finally fell to American John Isner 70-68 in the fifth set of a duel lasting 11hr 5min spread over three days.

In contrast, Djokovic allowed Mahut three games on his birthday.

What will you do now Djokovic was asked on court. 'Have an ice bath,' he said. 'My team want me to suffer!'

Laughter echoed around the court, which was the extent of the entertainment on offer as Mahut took a pounding that would have brought the intervention of a white towel had he been wearing boxing gloves.

Hewitt may meet the same fate – but Australians will rise to applaud his memory.