Hewitt Hangs Tough Against Marray

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Three-time winner Lleyton Hewitt was forced to save six set points in the first set and another one in the second as he finally overcame the challenge of British wild card Jonathan Marray to move through to the quarterfinals of the Stella Artois Championships.

Hewitt, who is hoping to join John McEnroe and Boris Becker as the only four-time champions at The Queen's Club, eventually booked his place in the last eight against Igor Andreev with a 7-6(2), 7-6(8) victory over Marray, saving 11 of 12 break points in the match.

"It's good to play a different style of game before Wimbledon," said Hewitt. "On the big points I was able to produce the shots when I had to. He played better today than he had in the first two rounds from what I've heard from other people."

The No. 6 seed from Australia had to draw upon all of his experience against the 23-year-old Marray, playing in just his second ATP tournament having lost in the first round in Nottingham 12 months ago.

Marray broke Hewitt's serve to lead 2-0 at start of the match, and continued to attack the net at every opportunity - the kind of tactics that worked wonders against Christophe Rochus and fellow Briton Jamie Delgado earlier in the week. Although Hewitt broke back at the first opportunity, the former World No. 1 never looked comfortable against the World No. 277.

With the Briton leading 6-5 in the first set, Hewitt saved six set points before eventually forcing a tie-break, which he dominated to take it 7-2. But Marray refused to let that disappointment affect him, as he continued to put pressure on the former Wimbledon and US Open champion.

Marray, who won two Futures tournaments in Uzbekistan in May and reached the second round in Surbiton last week, faced two match points on his own serve at 5-6, 15-40 in the second set. But he came up with the goods on both occasions, and took the set into the tie-break.

Hewitt held another match point at 6-5, and a fourth at 7-6, but Marray saved both and had a set point of his own at 8-7, only for Hewitt to produce a winning forehand. Trailing 9-8, Marray finally succumbed after sending a backhand wide as a relieved Hewitt went through. The Australian has now won 19 of his last 20 matches at The Queen's Club.

Despite the loss, Marray was delighted with his week's work. "I'm quite happy with the way I played," said the Briton. "Obviously quite disappointed that I had set points in both sets and could have won the match in two. He played some great shots on the big points, which is why he's so good.

"I didn't really feel nervous to be honest. On those set points I was trying to do the same thing I'd been doing the rest of the match. I had a great time out there. It's the first time I've played on a show court like that, but I was relaxed out there and had a great time."

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