Posted: Wed January 9, 2013 9:17AM; Updated: Wed January 9, 2013 9:17AM

Hewitt beats Raonic, del Potro advances at Kooyong

Australian Lleyton Hewitt, 31, is preparing for his 17th Australian Open.

Lucas Dawson/Getty Images

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) -- Former No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt beat big-serving Canadian Milos Raonic 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (4) at the Kooyong Classic on Wednesday, advancing to a semifinal against Tomas Berdych.

The 31-year-old Hewitt is preparing for his 17th Australian Open. He won two years ago at Kooyong, an invitational warm-up event for the first major of the season.

Berdych had a 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 win over Croatia's Ivan Dodig, a late replacement for injured Kei Nishikori.

Also, 2009 U.S. Open champion Juan Martin del Potro defeated Paul-Henri Mathieu of France 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (3) to set up a semifinal against Marcos Baghdatis, who was leading Janko Tipsarevic 6-1, 1-0 when the Serbian retired with a wrist injury.