Hewitt run over by lawn mower

Roger Federer’s stranglehold over Lleyton Hewitt reached suffocating proportions on Friday as he moved to the brink of a third consecut...

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Roger Federer’s stranglehold over Lleyton Hewitt reached suffocating proportions on Friday as he moved to the brink of a third consecutive Wimbledon title.

The Swiss world No.1 gave the Australian third seed another masterclass on Centre Court, winning 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 to set up a final showdown with Andy Roddick or Thomas Johansson.

Hewitt, the last person to win the men’s singles here before Federer, is one of the game’s toughest cookies, but with the magical Swiss on the other side of the net his game crumbled. Federer’s domination over the player ranked immediately below him in the world rankings is such that he has won the last eight matches against him.

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“I’m really pleased to be in my third final,” said Federer.

The Wimbledon seeding policy meant Hewitt was demoted to third seed below Roddick — a decision that Left him privately seething and put him on collision course with the Swiss a match sooner than he would have liked.

“I’ve got no doubt that I feel like I’m the second best player going around right at the moment,” said the 24-year-old. If the capacity crowd were expecting a backlash they were to be sadly disappointed.

His counter-punching percentage game is too good for virtually every other player but against Federer the sums just do not add up.

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The Swiss can defend as well as Hewitt, moves just as well, serves at a similar pace, but unlike Hewitt, he can launch devastating attacks from any part of the court with a dazzling array of spins and angles. (Reuters)

Minutes of the match

		Federer • The champion broke the Australian in his opening service game, courtesy a brilliant forehand. • The third seed broke right back and it was back on serve. At 4-3, the defending champion produced a neatly timed volley that kissed the net to set up a break point which he converted • The Swiss hit a backhand volley into the open court to bring up set point in the second set which he converted to take a two set lead. • In the fifth game of the third set Hewitt uncorked a smash which looked a clear winner. But, the Swiss machine, stretching fully to his right, hit a forehand which dipped out of Hewitt’s reach, leaving him flat-footed and dazed. Hewitt • The Australian gifted the defending champion a 3-2 lead in the second set courtesy three backhand errors in that game. • What would have given Hewitt a break point, his first since the opening set, was an overhit forehand by the top seed that was called out on the baseline. But French umpire Pascal Maria overruled the call, while TV replays showed that the ball was long. The Form Guide Ladies finals Lindsay Davenport vs Venus Williams What works for Venus… • Davenport may be bigger (by one and a half inch) and stronger (by 15lbs of muscle) but age (older by 4 years) certainly is a handicap. • Venus’s brutal power-hitting – as Sharapova described it after the semifinal- gives her the edge. What works for Lindsay • With Davenport ready to wait for errors, Venus’s error-prone game might work for her. • Davenport would look to work on Williams’s weak first serve. X Factor • With both being traditional big hitters, the game might not have long rallies. Whoever serves well and gets the first hit will call the shots. Head to Head: • 2000, Final: Venus won 6-3, 7-6 (5) 2001, SF: Venus won 6-2, 6-7 (4), 6-1 2003, QF: VEnus won 6-2, 2-6, 6-1