HALLE, Germany (AP)—Australia’s Lleyton Hewitt beat Thiemo de Bakker of the Netherlands 6-3, 6-3 Wednesday to reach the quarterfinals of the Gerry Weber Open and said he was in ideal form heading into the latter stages of the tournament.
The 29-year-old Hewitt felt a twinge in his neck during the match but served well nevertheless to sweep past the 21-year-old Dutch player and continue his impressive comeback from a hip injury.
“I felt a bit of stiffness in my neck when I went back for a smash and I didn't want it to get worse, but I was able to keep going, which was good,” the eighth-seeded Hewitt said.
“I served very well and cleanly—I have not put a foot wrong so far. If I can take care of my serve, then I feel I am as good a returner as anyone.”
Not only does Hewitt's form in Halle augur well for the remainder of the tournament, in which he can only meet favorite Roger Federer in the final, but it also puts him in confident mood ahead of Wimbledon, which starts a week on Monday.
“I think I can do some damage if I get the right draw,” he said. “Grass is possibly my favorite surface, which is not something I thought I would say when I started on the Tour.
“It's not like on clay when you get lots of chances to break. On grass, you only get half-chances and you have to take them, which I am doing so far.”
Hewitt will meet Andreas Beck in the last eight after the German player defeated compatriot Nicolas Kiefer 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 (4).
“Hewitt is incredible on grass,” Beck said. “He has won Wimbledon and has played great here. He will be the top favorite, but I will try my best. Of course I want to win, but he is the overwhelming favorite.
“It's definitely going to be something special to play against a Wimbledon champion and a man who was No. 1 in the world. He deserves respect.”
Philipp Petzschner defeated Viktor Troicki 7-6 (5), 6-3 to become the first name in the quarter-finals.
Federer takes on Colombia’s Alejandro Falla in the last 16 on Thursday.