- Brisbane International
Federer to face Hewitt in Brisbane final
Roger Federer will take on Lleyton Hewitt in the final of the Brisbane International after both players came through their last four encounters in final sets.
Federer got the better of Jeremy Chardy 6-3 6-7(3) 6-3, while home favourite Hewitt ousted Kei Nishikori 5-7 6-4 6-3.
It is the first time that Federer is playing in Brisbane, and with a new larger racquet and his childhood hero Stefan Edberg now a part of his coaching team, the record 17-time grand slam champion has started the 2014 campaign well, as he looks to do better than last year when he lifted only one trophy.
He clinched the break in the second game of the opening set, and solid on his serve maintained it throughout.
However, when it appeared that Switzerland's No. 1 would be heading for a comfortable path through to the final, Chardy hit back to claim the second set in the tiebreak.
But, after Chardy showed great resistance, Federer broke his opponent in the 11th game to move 6-5 in front in the final set, and wrapped up the victory on his serve to love, concluding with back-to-back aces.
In the other semi-final, Hewitt came from a set down to defeat second seed, with the Australian into a final on home soil for the first time since the Australian Open of 2005.
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