Tennis: Hewitt faces qualifier in Sydney final

SYDNEY: Defending champion Lleyton Hewitt lost a set for the first time this week before overpowering Max Mirnyi, of Belarus, 6-7, 6-3 6-2, in the semifinals of the Sydney International yesterday.

The top-seeded Australian now meets qualifier Ivo Minar, who beat fellow Czech Radek Stepanek 6-1, 6-2 to reach his first ATP final.

Russian third seed Elena Dementieva pulled out of the women's semifinals due to illness, giving unseeded Australian Samantha Stosur a free ride into the final. World No 1 Lindsay Davenport also withdrew from her quarter-final against Stosur on Thursday.

Minar, 20, ranked 158th in the world, was planning to try to qualify for next week's Australian Open but has had to pull out of the draw in order that he can play in the final here.

"For me, it's a great experience. This is the best result of my career," Minar said.

Mirnyi had beaten Hewitt in two of their previous three meetings, including the first round of the 2000 Sydney Olympics on the same court, and looked set for another win over the Australian when he took the opening set on a tiebreak.

But Hewitt, who has won the Sydney title three times, broke serve twice to square the match before running away with the deciding set.

Mirnyi's last two opponents had quit halfway through the first set and Hewitt's extra time on court proved decisive as he twice broke serve in the decider.

- REUTERS