UPDATE 1-Tennis-Wimbledon-Hewitt roars into last eight

*Former champion battles through pain

*Aussie roared on by crowd

(adds quotes, details)

By Paul Majendie

LONDON, June 29 (Reuters) - Former Wimbledon champion Lleyton Hewitt fought back from two sets down on Monday to defeat Czech Radek Stepanek 4-6 2-6 6-1 6-2 6-2 and take his place in the quarter-finals.

It was a deeply satisfying victory for the feisty Australian, firing on all cylinders once more after a hip operation that saw him tumbling out of the top 100 in the rankings earlier this year.

"I had to dig deep out there," said an elated Hewitt. "It is great to be back in the quarter-finals at my favourite grand slam. It's an awesome feeling."

In a "battle of the crocks," Hewitt had to call the trainer to work on his left leg after the second set while Stepanek, the 23rd seed, summoned help after the fourth set to strap up his troublesome left knee.

"I had a small strain," Hewitt said of his injury time-out. "I was struggling to move. I had to play with a bit of pain."

Hewitt, the 2002 Wimbledon champion, showed all his old spirit, cheered on by a raucous bunch of Australian fans chanting: "If you want to see five sets, clap your hands."

The crowd obliged and so did Hewitt as they bellowed "Go Hewie" and "Come on mate."

Hewitt was full of praise afterwards for his rowdy fan club as they really lifted him when his back was against the wall.

"It's like playing a Davis Cup tie out there. They slept out all night (in the queue). I owe them a few beers," he said.

Hewitt, who knocked out Argentine fifth seed Juan Martin del Potro in the second round, had not dropped a set at Wimbledon so far this year until Monday.

The victory was classic Hewitt, a "Never say Die" player who psyches himself up with fist-pumping cries of "Come On" and revels in the challenge of coming from behind.

After all his injury woes, this was a victory to savour for the unseeded Australian, who faces American sixth seed Andy Roddick or Czech Tomas Berdych in the last eight.

(Editing by Miles Evans. To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)