Djokovic Ends Hewitt Bid; In-Form Ferrer Dismisses Gasquet

© Getty ImagesDavid Ferrer reached the Australian Open semi-finals last year.

World No. 1 Novak Djokovic ended Lleyton Hewitt's Australian Open campaign on Monday night, beating the 2005 runner-up 6-1, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 to reach the quarter-finals in Melbourne.

The 30-year-old Hewitt failed to hold serve until the fifth game of the second set, as Djokovic raced to a 6-1, 3-2 lead. The Serbian then broke serve again in the ninth game to clinch a two-set lead. However, Hewitt fought back from an early break deficit in the third set and delighted the Rod Laver Arena crowd as he broke Djokovic's serve again in the ninth game. He went onto serve out the set on his fourth set point opportunity.

Djokovic was forced to save a break point in the third game of the fourth set, and it proved to be Hewitt's last chance. Defending champion Djokovic broke decisively in the sixth game and went on to close out victory in four minutes shy of three hours.

Watch Highlights | Watch Djokovic's Hot Shot

"I played some loose points [in the third set] and got him back into the match," said Djokovic. "But credit to him as well for being competitive, for not giving up. This is something you can expect from Lleyton who is very well known for his fighting spirit. I should have closed it out earlier."

Hewitt was competing at the Australian Open for the 16th time after recovering from a foot injury that ruled him out of the majority of the 2011 ATP World Tour season. The two-time Grand Slam champion had knocked out Canadian No. 23 seed Milos Raonic in the third round. Hewitt will now switch to a television commentary role for Channel Seven, the host broadcaster.

Read 'Hewitt - The Street Fighter' In DEUCE

The 24-year-old Djokovic is through to the quarter-finals at Melbourne Park for the fifth straight year. He won his first of four Grand Slam titles at the Australian Open in 2008 (d. Tsonga), and added to his tally in a banner 2011 season that saw him triumph in Melbourne (d. Murray), Wimbledon (d. Nadal) and the US Open (d. Nadal).

For a place in the semi-finals, Djokovic will face World No. 5 David Ferrer, who reached the Australian Open quarter-finals for the third time earlier in the day as he dismissed No. 18-ranked Richard Gasquet 6-4, 6-4, 6-1.

Watch Monday Night Highlights

The Spaniard fired 36 winners and benefitted from 27 unforced errors from Gasquet as he broke serve seven times to claim victory in one hour and 47 minutes. Ferrer achieved his best result in Melbourne last year when he reached the semi-finals, defeating Rafael Nadal in the quarter-finals before falling to Andy Murray; he also reached the last eight in 2008 (l. to Djokovic).

The 29-year-old Ferrer is on an eight-match winning streak, having opened his 2012 ATP World Tour campaign by winning his 12th ATP World Tour title at the Heineken Open in Auckland (d. O. Rochus).