Hewitt through to Queen's final

LONDON (AP) -- Top-seeded Lleyton Hewitt and No. 2 Tim Henman will meet in the final of the Queen's Club grass-court championship for the second straight year after overcoming stubborn opposition on Saturday.

Hewitt advanced with a 7-6 (5), 6-3 victory over Sjeng Schalken of The Netherlands, and Henman edged past Dutchman Raemon Sluiter 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-2.

Hewitt is the first player since John McEnroe to reach the Queen's final for three consecutive years. McEnroe reached five straight finals between 1979 and 1983, winning the first three.

Both defending champion Hewitt and Schelken played almost exclusively from the baseline in their semifinal clash and there were several high quality rallies.

There were no break points in the first set but Schalken held a slight edge, twice going 30-0 on Hewitt's serve as well as taking him to deuce in the eighth game.

But it was the world number one who sneaked the tiebreaker.

Hewitt finally earned his first break point after 61 minutes of play. That came at 1-0 in the second set, and although Hewitt failed to convert two break points in that game, a netted forehand gave him the only break of the match for a 3-1 lead.

"It wasn't bad," Hewitt said. "There's still room for improvement, but I haven't dropped a set all week so far so I can't complain. He was hitting well from the baseline.

"This is a perfect preparation for Wimbledon for me. I've had four tough matches so far and I'm going to have to play even better if I'm going to win Sunday."

Henman was forced to fight back from a set and a break down to overcome 81st-ranked Sluiter, who tortured the erratic Briton with some stunning service returns and winning volleys.

Henman had plenty of chances to take the first set, holding five break points at 5-5 before he netted a simple backhand volley to fall behind 4-3 in the tiebreaker. A questionable ace from Sluiter closed out the set.

Sluiter then broke Henman to love to lead 3-2 in the second set, but Henman broke back immediately and then again for the set as a pair of double-faults gave him two set points.

Rain then interrupted play for well over an hour, and when play resumed Henman held off three break points before taking the deciding set 6-2.

 

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