Hewitt edges five-set thriller

Third seed Lleyton Hewitt advanced to the fourth round of the US Open today after a thrilling five-set victory against Taylor Dent.

Hewitt trailed two sets to one and was in trouble against his big-serving American opponent but raised his game in customary fashion to seal a 6-3 3-6 6-7 (2/7) 6-2 7-5 victory in three hours and 21 minutes.

The decisive break came at 5-5 in the fifth when Hewitt played an extraordinary game, mixing wonderful defence with some sublime passing shots to break the Dent delivery.

The Australian still struggled to see the match out, wasting three match points, before clinching it on a fourth with a booming ace down the middle.

Hewitt, the 2001 winner at Flushing Meadows, now meets either David Ferrer or Dominik Hrbaty.