Hewitt fights back to sink Russell in five

MELBOURNE, Jan 16 (Reuters) Home favourite Lleyton Hewitt fought back from two sets down to beat American Michael Russell 3-6 2-6 6-3 6-3 6-3 in the Australian Open first round today.

Roared on by the crowd, Hewitt, seeded 19th, started slowly against the 28-year-old Russell, who raised his game to ease through the first two sets of the late match on Rod Laver Arena.

Russell also made an early break in the third set but former world number one Hewitt dug deep and found his range as his opponent, a qualifier for the tournament ranked 114th in the world, flagged.

Hewitt began to produce his trademark raking groundstrokes to move Russell relentlessly around the court and the former Wimbledon and U.S. Open champion clinched victory just after 0100 am local time on his first match point.

''I just kept fighting and hanging in there and got out of another one,'' Hewitt said in a courtside interview after a match which lasted three hours 29 minutes.

''I knew I couldn't afford to lose another set and I felt good as the match went on. I do a lot of physical training off the court and it paid off for me today.'' Hewitt made 41 unforced errors in the match to Russell's 38 but the Australian hit 55 winners against his opponent's 33.

REUTERS DH RAI2048