Tennis: Hewitt set for Rusedski meeting

Lleyton Hewitt booked a date with Britain's Greg Rusedski in the last eight of the Sybase Open in San Jose.

But the Australian was given a fright by Andrei Stoliarov before winning 6-2 6-7 6-3.

The second seed saw the Russian qualifier take the second set 10-8 on the tiebreak win before regaining his composure in the final set.

Rusedski is 2-1 down on career meetings with Hewitt, who celebrated his 20th birthday last week.

The British number two won 6-4 7-5 on grass at Nottingham in 1999 but went down in straight sets to the Australian in Switzerland (carpet) and Germany (hardcourt) last year.

"I'd like to play well because the last two losses were close," Said Rusedski, who can at least point to an impressive record in this tournament.

The left-hander, who advanced via a 6-3 6-2 thrashing of Italy's Renzo Furlan on Wednesday, reached the final in 1997, before retiring with a wrist injury when facing Pete Sampras, and also made the quarter-finals in 1995 and 1996.