Hewitt keeps Australian flag flying

LONDON (Reuters) - Australian Lleyton Hewitt delighted an army of yellow and green clad fans at Wimbledon on Saturday, beating German Philipp Petzschner 7-5 7-6 6-3 to reach the last 16 for the sixth consecutive year.

The former 2002 champion, gradually working his way back up the rankings after hip surgery last year, once again showed his grasscourt pedigree having removed fifth seed Juan Martin del Potro in the previous round.

He broke the Petzschner serve for the first time in the 12th game to move a set ahead then edged the second set on a tiebreak after both players had looked solid on serve.

With some amusing chants ringing in his ears, including adapted versions of popular songs by The Beatles, Gary Glitter and Frankie Valli, Hewitt broke Petzschner's resolve in the third set and clinched the win on his third match point.

Australia's sole representative in the men's draw will face 23rd-seeded Czech Radek Stepanek for a place in the quarter-finals.

(Reporting by Martyn Herman; Editing by Ken Ferris)