Hewitt set for test of tiros with Roddick

Lleyton Hewitt has a yellow streak down the middle of the back of his shirt, a Nike design totally at odds with the Australian's feisty approach to the sport and his penchant for getting into scrapes. The fourth seed does not need a symbol like that to draw attention to him, particularly as he is due to play Andy Roddick, the new darling of the American game, in the men's singles quarter-finals at the United States Open.

Neutral observers could only admire the style and spirit of Hewitt's game yesterday as he overcame Tommy Haas, of Germany, 3-6, 7-6, 6-4, 6-3, who had led, 6-3, 2-2, when the match was suspended because of rain on Tuesday evening.

Hewitt returned to the court yesterday in determined mood, so much so that though Haas managed to save two set points to force a tie-break, Hewitt swept through the shoot-out, 7-2, to square the match. Hewitt went on to win 10 of the next 11 points before Haas was able to make the slightest impact in the third set.

The German double-faulted to be broken for 2-5, but delayed Hewitt momentarily by retrieving a break as the Australian served for the set, netting a forehand at 30-40. Serving for the set again, at 5-4, Hewitt dropped the opening point before securing the set with a couple of smash winners and an unrerturnable serve.

Haas, warned for breaking a racket as his frustration increased, was unable to stem the flow of Hewitt's confidence. The German was lured into netting a backhand to be broken for 1-2 in the fourth set. He went on to win only one more game, when serving at 5-1, before Hewitt completed the job with a smash.

Hewitt has won his two previous matches against Roddick: in straight sets in the quarter-finals of the Ericsson Open in Key Biscayne in March, and int he third round at the French Open in June, when Roddick retired injured in the third set.

Roddick is learning to serve with control as well as power, a combination that helped launch Pete Sampras to greatness. "I know I can hit a serve pretty hard," Roddick said, having demonstrated the knack with a 141 mph ace in the second set of his fourth round win against Tommy Robredo, of Spain, 6-2, 6-2, 6-4. "But I've developed a pretty good out-wide slice, and I have a serve that I can hit up the 'T' at 120, 130, 135-plus. That's a big part of why I'm holding at a pretty decent rate this year."

While acknowledging that he could not resist taking "a peek" when 141 mph flashed on the clock ­ the third fastest serve recorded at Flushing Meadows ­ Roddick added: "I knew I cracked it pretty good, but that's just one serve. I'm prouder of the fact that I didn't get broken. That means more to me than speed guns."

Marat Safin, the Russian defending champion, left the grounds yesterday wondering whether he would be playing Andre Agassi or Pete Sampras in the semi-finals. Safin, the third seed, needed only an hour and 47 minutes to beat Mariano Zabaleta, of Argentina, 6-4, 6-4, 6-2, in the quarter-finals.

In spite of his improved form, Safin has prepared his supporters for the worst. "I don't want to look ridiculous against Agassi or Sampras, so I need some excuse from the beginning," he said. "Pete played so well against Patrick Rafter that Patrick could do nothing. Andre against [Roger] Federer was a joke. He played too good. It will be an honour for me to play one of them in the semi-finals. It will be perfect preparation for the final ­ if I get there. Otherwise, it's a bit of luck for me that I was in the semi-finals and lost to a big guy. It's also very important to who you lose."

Gustavo Kuerten, the Brazilian world No 1, is due to play Yevgeny Kafelnikov, of Russia, for a place in the semi-finals. Kuerten, having recovered from two sets down to overcome Max Mirnyi, of Belarus, in the third round, looked fit and impressive in defeating Albert Costa, of Spain, in the fourth round, 6-4, 6-4, 7-6.

The dominant player on slow clay courts, Kuerten has yet to advance beyond the quarter-finals on the concrete at the US Open, a point not lost on the American critics. "What's written in the newspapers is just headlines," Kuerten said. "When I go to the court, on any surface, the players respect me, that's the main thing."

Kafelnikov, the seventh seed, said he was happy to have been largely overlooked so far. "You guys didn't talk about me for the first 10 days. That seems an ideal situation for me. Keep not writing any articles, keep it low." No promises were made. But then Kafelnikov has a habit of stirring things up, if not with his play then with his comments.

Since parting from his most recent coach, the American Larry Stefanki, now with Tim Henman, the gifted but obdurate Kafelnikov has decided to go it alone. "I prefer to be solo," he said, puckishly. "I learned so much throughout the years. I don't think anybody can help me these days but myself."

The Williams sisters are one match away from their first meeting in a Grand Slam singles final. Venus, the Wimbledon champion and title-holder here, defeated Kim Clijsters, of Belgium, in the quarter-finals yesterday, 6-3, 6-1, although the score flatters her performance. Williams committed more unforced errors (43) than she delivered winners (21). Clijsters, playing the older Williams for the first time converted only one of nine break points.

Serena Williams, the 10th seed, will play Martina Hingis, the world No 1, in the women's singles semi-finals tomorrow, their first meeting since the quarter-finals at the Australian Open in January. Hingis won that match, 8-6 in the third set, and went on to defeat the older Williams sister, Venus, before losing to Jennifer Capriati in the final.

Lindsay Davenport, the third seed, was defeated by Serena in the quarter-finals here on Tuesday night, 6-3, 6-7, 7-5. "Serena obviously has the game to overpower Martina," Davenport said, "it's just a question of how many errors compared to winners she has." The same could be said of Venus, who is due to play either Capriati or Amelie Mauresmo in the semi-finals.

Women's singles, quarterfinals

(4) V WILLIAMS (US) def. (5) K CLIJSTERS (Bel) 6–3 6–1

Men's singles, fourth Round

(4) L HEWITT (Aus) def. (16) T HAAS (Ger) 3–6 7–6(2) 6–4 6–2

Quarterfinals

(3) M SAFIN (Rus) def. M Zabaleta (Arg) 6–4 6–4 6–2

Men's doubles, semifinals

(2) D JOHNSON/J PALMER (US) def. (4) M MIRNYI (Bela)/S STOLLE (Aus) 6–4 3–6 6–3

(14) W BLACK/K ULLYETT (Zim) def. (15) P HAARHUIS/S SCHALKEN (Neth) 6–3 6–4

Women's doubles, quarterfinals

(3) C BLACK (Zim)/E LIKHOVTSEVA (Rus) def. (10) T KRIZAN/K SREBOTNIK (Slo) 6–3 6–3

Mixed doubles, semifinals

(2) L RAYMOND (US)/L PAES (Ind) def. (3) K PO–MESSERLI/D JOHNSON (US) 7–6(3) 6–4