MELBOURNE, Jan 28: Lleyton Hewitt battled his way into the Australian Open final with a typically tenacious 3-6 7-6 7-6 6-1 win over Andy Roddick on Friday to become the first Australian men's singles finalist in 17 years.

"It's awesome," the 23-year-old said after downing the second seed. "I always said I'd do anything to play in the first night final in Australian Open men's history and I've got my chance."

Only Marat Safin stands between Hewitt and his dream of becoming the first Australian to win the men's title since 1976. The Russian, twice a runner-up, beat runaway world number one Roger Federer on Thursday and Hewitt knows he faces an uphill battle.

"Obviously, Marat's beaten the best player going around. He's obviously playing extremely well. He always plays well at the Australian Open," Hewitt said. "I'm going to have to raise my game again, go out there and give it everything I've got and see what happens."

American Roddick had dominated third seed Hewitt with his heavy service game in the opening two sets, crashing down 31 aces in total, but eventually he crumbled as Hewitt stood firm.

"I'm pissed off. You know, I'm mad. I felt like I was in there with a shot. To lose two breakers like that, which either one of them would have given me a distinct advantage, it's disappointing," Roddick said.

"When you just lose a third-set breaker and then all of a sudden the wheels start turning a little bit faster... I mean, it's tough to stop." Hewitt, who survived two tough five-set matches to reach the semi-finals, absorbed everything Roddick threw at him and gradually wore the American down with his superior court coverage, ground strokes and never-say-die attitude.

Hewitt, whose win lifts him to number two in the world, sank to his knees with his arms raised to wild cheers from the Rod Laver Arena centre court crowd when a Roddick backhand sailed long on the final point after two hours and 54 minutes.

Hewitt had never made it past the fourth round at Melbourne Park since he began as a 15-year-old qualifier in 1997 but is now bidding to become the first Australian to win the men's title since Mark Edmondson beat John Newcombe 29 years ago.

Winner of the U.S. Open in 2001 and Wimbledon in 2002, Hewitt is the first Australian to reach the final since Pat Cash in 1987 and 1988. Roddick, last year's Wimbledon runner-up, began strongly against a subdued Hewitt and grabbed an early break in the second game as the local favourite grumbled about a bad line call.

The American then revealed his match plan by slamming six aces past Hewitt to serve out the first set, even risking his 200 kmh (124 mph)-plus bombs on second serves.

Roddick added four straight aces to hold serve in the second game of the second set, apparently intent on battering Hewitt into submission. But instead of crashing through, Roddick crashed, with the momentum shifting as Hewitt clung on to his own serve to force a tiebreak in the second set.

Hewitt turned the tables on Roddick and brought up set point with an ace of his own and a backhand error by Roddick gave the Australian the tiebreak 7-3. Hewitt handed Roddick an early chance in the third set, gifting the American a service break with three double faults.

Roddick raced to a 4-1 lead but again the Australian scrambled back, snaring his own service break for the first time in the match on a Roddick double fault in the seventh game.

Hewitt again dominated the third-set tiebreak, whipping a backhand past a stranded Roddick to claim it 7-4. The fourth set went all Hewitt's way as a dispirited Roddick dropped serve twice in the second and fifth games, the first time with a double fault as his serve was all but blunted.

Roddick finished the match with nine double faults but was also let down by poor volleying, winning only 18 of the 32 points he played at the net.

MEN'S SINGLES SEMIFINAL RESULT: 3-Lleyton Hewitt (Australia) beat 2-Andy Roddick (U.S.) 3-6 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (7-4) 6-1. -Reuters