Baghdatis beats Hewitt in Sydney

Marcos Baghdatis has eliminated Lleyton Hewitt from the Sydney International,
downing the Australian 4-6 6-2 6-3 on Thursday.
The quarter-final match-up promised much after the pair had a five set classic the
last time they met in the 2008 Australian Open, and they delivered again in three
keenly contested sets.
Hewitt started in promising fashion, breaking Baghdatis early in the first set and
hanging tough as the Cypriot pushed to level the scores.
The former world No.1 held firm, took the set and then stole a break and a 2-1 lead
in the second set.
But Baghdatis lifted his play to reel off six straight games, taking the set and a
1-0 lead in the third.
A solitary service break was then enough to secure the decider for the 2006
Australian Open finalist who finished off the four-time Sydney champion with an ace.
Baghdatis will now take on the winner of the Peter Luczak-Mardy Fish quarter-final
being played Thursday night.
Meanwhile former world No.7 Richard Gasquet booked a semi-final spot for a second
successive year after beating Italy's Potito Starace 6-3 7-6 (9-7).
Gasquet looked in fine touch, showing the class that made him a top 10 player before
his two-and-a-half month ban after testing positive to cocaine last year.
He'll meet countryman Julien Benneteau after his 6-4 6-7 (7-5) 6-0 win over
Argentine Leonardo Mayer.