Lleyton Hewitt has kept his Australian Open dream alive with a four-set win over 23rd seed Milos Raonic in the third round on Saturday night.
Hewitt, who received a wildcard to the tournament, dropped the first set against the big-hitting Canadian, but gradually wore him down to seal the 4-6 6-3 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 win in three hours and six minutes.
It was a typical fighting performance from the underdog who continues to surprise at Melbourne Park in what could very well be his last appearance here.
Raonic may have had plenty more aces (23-7) and winners (58-27) than his opponent, but Hewitt's ability to convert three of his five break point chances proved crucial.
The unforced error count also proved telling with Hewitt committing 32 compared to Raonic's 54.
Raonic didn't give up a single break point chance in the opening set and converted his fourth opportunity on the Hewitt serve in the seventh game on his way to the opening set.
He was again on song in the second set, but a loose game when trailing 3-4 presented the world No.181 with an opportunity to break and he did on his first attempt before serving it out to level at one set apiece.
Hewitt looked to have grabbed the ascendency when he again broke in the fifth game of the third set, but Raonic hit back as they played their way towards an inevitable tiebreaker.
Experience told in the tiebreaker with 30-year-old Hewitt playing smarter than his 21-year-old opponent, who double faulted and at 3-4 before making a crucial unforced error to gift the Australian three set points.
Raonic saved two, but a missed volley on the third sent the crowd wild as the former world No.1 bounced back to his chair with the lead.
Hewitt carried his momentum into the fourth with a break in the fourth game, but almost gave it back when serving for the match as he saved two break points before finally closing it out on his third attempt.
It is the first time since 2004 when Hewitt and Mark Philippoussis reached the fourth round that Australia has had two men in the final 16 after Bernard Tomic booked his spot on Friday night.
It also matches Hewitt's best performance at his home Grand Slam since he reached the 2005 final.
His next opponent is world No.1 and defending champion Novak Djokovic, with Hewitt's only win in six attempts coming way back in 2006.