Ferrer crushes brave Hewitt at Roland Garros

0 Comments | AFP, May, 2008

PARIS (AFP) — Spanish fifth seed David Ferrer lived up to his nickname of 'The Bulldozer' to crush the brave resistance of Australia's Lleyton Hewitt in five sets to reach the French Open fourth round on Saturday.

Ferrer, a quarter-finalist in 2005, will face Czech 21st seed Radek Stepanek for a place in the last eight after overcoming a trademark, gutsy Hewitt display winning 6-2, 3-6, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 in a marathon three and half hour tussle.

It was a bitter outcome for the 25th seeded Hewitt.

He had come into Roland Garros suffering from a hip injury which had sidelined him for six weeks and forced him to miss the entire European claycourt season.

It was hardly surprising that the 27-year-old eventually wilted under a relentless Ferrer final set...