World number one Lleyton Hewitt used every ounce of his fighting spirit to hold off an equally courageous Roger Federer in a pulsating Masters Cup semi-final today.
The Australian baseliner emerged a 7-5, 5-7, 7-5 victor over his Swiss opponent after nearly three hours at Shanghai's New International Expo Centre.
Hewitt will meet Spanish dynamo Juan Carlos Ferrero, who defeated countryman Carlos Moya 6-7 (6/8), 6-4, 6-4 in the earlier match in a baseline slugfest that was almost as exciting.
Hewitt's sheer will to win eventually proved more powerful than Federer's big serve-and-volley game, with his never-say-die attitude helping him save 17 break points, most of them at crucial stages throughout the match.
"I hate to lose, I really don't know how else to put it," said Hewitt. "When I get out there my competitive spirit just keeps burning."
Federer, who at 21 is six months younger than Hewitt, proved his own courage by fighting off three match points in the second and third sets before finally succumbing to the relentless pressure.
The Chinese crowd, who were witnessing the biggest tennis tournament ever to be held in the country, responded to the enthralling encounters with enthusiasm almost as intense as the effort showed by the players.
"It was a great atmosphere out there," Hewitt said. "For me it's fantastic. I love playing in jam-packed arenas like this."
More than 3.7 million dollars is on offer at the season-ending Masters Cup, which is open to only the top eight players in the world.
Ferrero and Hewitt get 370,000 dollars each for their semi-final victories, with another 700,000 on offer for the winner of the final.
The final is a replay of their semi-final clash in last year's Masters Cup in Sydney, which Hewitt won 6-4, 6-3.
AFP