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In the latest match in Grand Slam history, former World No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt needed five match points before defeating 2006 finalist Marcos Baghdatis 4-6, 7-5, 7-5, 6-7(4), 6-3 at 4.34 a.m. Sunday to reach the fourth round of the Australian Open. The match started at 11.47 p.m. after the day session on Rod Laver Arena ran late, due in part to Roger Federer's 10-8 fifth-set win over Janko Tipsarevic.

Baghdatis hit 73 winners, including 28 aces, but Hewitt, the 2005 Australian Open finalist, would not be unnerved. The former US Open and Wimbledon champion hit 46 winners to 56 unforced errors to advance to play World No. 3 Novak Djokovic.

Federer Escapes 10-8 in the Fifth!

Following Venus Williams's straight-sets win in the first night match on Rod Laver Arena, tournament officials elected not to enforce a policy of not starting matches after 11 p.m. Hewitt had a chance to close out his match much earlier when he led 5-1 in the fourth set and had one match point on the Baghdatis serve at 5-2, 30/40. But he was unable to convert and subsequently lost the set in a tie-break. Hewitt eventually needed another four match points in the fifth set to close out the match after 4 hours and 45 minutes.

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There was also a chance of a premature finish in the opening game of the third set when Baghdatis suffered what initially appeared to be a serious ankle injury.

Hewitt hit a mid court forehand in behind Baghdatis, who was moving to his right back towards the middle of the baseline. The Cypriot put pressure on his right foot in an attempt to halt his momentum and reverse direction to the backhand court. But his shoe appeared to stick and he fell to the ground, clutching his right ankle and yelling out in pain.

He immediately took off his right shoe and seconds later ATP trainer Paul Ness was out on court. Baghdatis took a medical time out to have the ankle strapped. Hewitt won the first four points after the interruption to hold serve and go ahead 0-30 in the next game, but a courageous Baghdatis - who appeared to be moving well - rallied to hold serve and level at 1-1.

Baghdatis Power
While Baghdatis had ample power to blast winners from all points of the court, counter-puncher Hewitt struggled to get the ball past Baghdatis, particularly from the middle of the court. Baghdatis then broke in the next game and held the advantage until he served for the set at 5-4. But he played a loose game to be broken to love and then was broken again - after double faulting to go down 15-40 - to hand the set to Hewitt.

Hewitt claimed Baghdatis's first service game of the fourth set and raced to a 5-1 lead, but was unable to serve out the match. Baghdatis survived one match point at 2-5, 30/40 on his own serve. At 3-5 he broke Hewitt for a second consecutive time, then showed amazing composure in the next game when he was heckled by a rowdy fan. At 30/15, a fan twice forced Baghdatis to check his second serve after calling out during his toss. Baghdatis ultimately double faulted and then the fan called out again before Baghdatis prepared to hit his first serve at 30/30, when he was within two points of defeat.

Security ejected the fan and then Baghdatis responded with an ace out wide and then also won the next point to level the set at 5-5. Baghdatis fell behind 2-4 in the fourth-set tie-break, but scrambled back and at 4-4 he jumped on a solid Hewitt serve wide to the forehand to clip a breathtaking crosscourt forehand winner to go ahead a mini-break

Gritty Hewitt
In the fifth set, Hewitt's fighting spirit and mental strength gave him the edge. After staving off break point to level the set at 2-2, Hewitt claimed the decisive break in a dramatic 14-minute game that saw Baghdatis commit three foot faults and stave off four break points before finally conceding his serve. Hewitt held to love for a 4-2 lead and soon after had 0/40 in Baghdatis's serve at 5-3.

Baghdatis, who who had won all five five-setters he had played at the Australian Open, saved all three match points before Hewitt ended the match on his fifth match point, dancing around a second serve to the ad court to wallop a flat forehand down the line that landed on the baseline.

The Australian fell forwards onto the court and then soon after embraced Baghdatis at the net.

"I should have closed it out in the fourth set when I was playing well... [but] it's one of my best wins mentally to beat him in five sets," Hewitt said. "It wasn't easy for both of us with the late finish after an incredible day's tennis when Roger Federer was taken so long in his match and it was tough for everybody, but we just tried to put this behind us on court."

Baghdatis took four painkillers after rolling his ankle, but said the injury was not a factor in tue outcome. "At the end I was a bit tired, but not because of the ankle, because of all the stress I had."

"I love the game. I lost the match, but I came out with so many good emotions. I had really so much fun, and the crowd was great... I'm a bit disappointed, that's for sure... but I'm just really happy the way I'm playing, and I'm ready for the season."

Saturday: Federer Taken to 10-8 in the Fifth by Tipsarevic
Saturday: Blake Rallies From Two Sets Down
Friday: Davydenko, Youzhny to Clash; Tsonga Continues Charge
Thursday: Gonzalez, Nalbandian, Blake March into Third Round
Thursday: Federer Ends Santoro's Melbourne Spell
Wednesday: Davydenko, Gasquet Safely into Third Round
Wednesday: Nadal Eases into Third Round; Robredo Upset
Tuesday: Federer, Gonzalez, Blake Begin Melbourne Campaigns
Tuesday: Djokovic, Hewitt Make Impressive Starts; Ljubicic Upset
Monday: Nadal, Davydenko, Gasquet Safely into 2nd RD
Monday: Roddick Eases into Second Round; Murray Upset