Hewitt crashes out in Adelaide

PERTH, Jan 4 (Reuters) Lleyton Hewitt crashed out of the Adelaide International at the hands of world number 94 Igor Kunitsyn of Russia today.

The fourth-seeded Australian, who said last week he was playing better than when he topped the world rankings, lost 4-6 7-6 6-4 in his final pool match to deprive him of valuable practice ahead of the Australian Open which starts on January 15.

A hesitant Hewitt, who won the tournament as a 16-year-old in 1998, took the first set before two double-faults helped the Russian break back and snatch the second in a tiebreak.

A string of loose shots cost the former Wimbledon and US Open champion as Kunitsyn clinched victory.

He next faces 18-year-old Juan Martin Del Potro in the last eight after the Argentine won his second pool match 7-6 0-6 6-3 against eighth seed Paul-Henri Mathieu of France.

Second-seeded Frenchman Richard Gasquet booked his place in the quarter-finals.

PUNISHING HEAT The 20-year-old world number 18 toiled in the 37 degree heat before prevailing 7-5 5-7 6-3 against Canadian Frank Dancevic.

The Adelaide tournament is the first in 2007 to test the new ATP round-robin format, with an initial 32-player field whittled down to 24 in an elimination round before eight pools of three players are formed.

The eight pool winners reach the quarter-finals.

Gasquet next plays Australian Chris Guccione, who defeated French sixth seed Arnaud Clement 7-6 7-6.

Guccione, who has been awarded a wildcard for the Australian Open, will be playing in his first ATP quarter-final.

Third seed Radek Stepanek was sent packing without setting foot on court on Thursday.

The Czech, who recently became engaged to former women's world number one Martina Hingis, was eliminated when American Vince Spadea topped their pool by beating Russian Evgeny Korolev 6-1 7-6.

Holder Florent Serra retired through illness at 2-6 7-5 1-1 in his final pool tie against fellow Frenchman Gilles Simon, handing a place in the quarters to Swede Joachim Johansson.

Top seed Novak Djokovic of Serbia booked his place in the last eight on Wednesday and will play American Paul Goldstein for a place in the semis.

REUTERS SAM VV1911