Tokyo - Lleyton Hewitt insured that Fabrice Santoro's first and last visit to the Japan Open was a short one, as the 2001 champion sent the retiring French veteran out in the second round 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 Thursday. With sun shining and winds dying down after a typhoon affected the capital overnight and into the early morning, conditions under the closed dome of the Ariake colosseum suited Hewitt's game down to the ground.
Eighth seed Hewitt pumped out 10 aces in the contest lasting just short of two hours, with the 36-year-old Santoro left with only a handful of tournaments before he wraps up his two-decade career at Paris Bercy next month.
"We have had some tough matches in the past," Hewitt said after nudging ahead 3-2 in the series which began nine years ago in Cincinnati. "Fabrice plays well on this surface.
"I was expecting a battle, but it was nice to get away with a win."
The Australian broke five times and ran away in the end with the concluding set as he served it out on the first of three match points.
After sitting out this part of the season a year ago due to a hip surgery, Hewitt said that he counts 2009 as a rebuilding year.
"I just want to get my ranking back up," said the one-time number one and double Grand Slam champion who now stands 26th but began the season outside the Top 100. "I hope to play some good tennis next season starting in Australia."
Other French contenders remained in the title chase after the exit of Santoro, with second seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga facing his friend and compatriot Richard Gasquet.
Third-seeded Frenchman Gilles Simon, winner of the Bangkok title last weekend, was aiming for the last eight as he played Russian Mikhail Youzhny.
