Tennis: Aussie Open - Hewitt safely through!

Australia's Lleyton Hewitt breathed a massive sigh of relief after battling past American James Blake in the second round of the Australian Open tonight. Hewitt lost the first set and was a set point down in the second before winning what proved to be the pivotal tie-break.

Blake, who broke his neck last year and contracted a virus which left him temporarily paralysed down one side of his face, injured his hand with a despairing dive on the final point of the tie-break and was never able to reproduce his best form from then on.

Hewitt, who has never been past the fourth round in his home grand slam, eventually wrapped up a 4-6 7-6 6-0 6-3 victory and will face Argentina's Juan Ignacio Chela in the next round.

Sportinglife