Hot on clay

Hewitt blazes through in Barcelona

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) -- Lleyton Hewitt, ranked number one in the world, won in straight sets Thursday in a third-round match against Argentina's David Nalbandian at the US$955,000 Seat Godo clay-court tennis tournament.

Hewitt had said at the start of the tournament that he was just getting his clay court play warmed up. But the pace on his stinging two-handed backhand returns proved he's already hot.

The Australian won 6-2, 6-4, in a match that lasted one hour and 14 minutes.

"I felt a lot better today," Hewitt said. "I was aggressive right from the start and I was happy with the way I was playing. David won at Estoril and has been playing very well lately. I stepped it up a notch today and beat him in straight sets, which makes me happy."

Hewitt's opponent in Friday's quarter-final match will be Moroccan Younes El Aynaoui, ranked 18th in the world.

El Aynaoui won his third-round match against Spaniard David Sanchez 6-4, 7-6 (8-6). El Aynaoui has reached the finals in three tournaments this year, winning on hard surface at both Doha and Casablanca.

"Younes is very underestimated," said Hewitt. "He's got a big game -- a good serve and a huge forehand. I'll try to open up his backhand as much as possible. I'll have to be playing as well as I did today to beat him."

 

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