Beaten Hewitt growing in confidence

Lleyton Hewitt said he would go into the US Open later this month full of confidence after pushing world number one Roger Federer to the limit at the Cincinnati Masters on Saturday.

The Australian was beaten 6-3 6-7 7-6 in the semi-finals by the Swiss top seed but looked close to his best.

"I couldn't have asked for better preparation for the US Open than these two weeks," said Hewitt, who lost to Federer in the quarter-finals at Montreal last week.

"It's taken the best guy in the world to knock me off.

"There were really only a couple of points in it. It could have gone either way. If I keep giving myself opportunities against Roger or Rafa (Nadal) or whoever at the end of tournaments, then sooner or later that's going to fall my way.

"I played a great game to break serve early in the third set. I had my chances, 3-2 in the third set and those half chances you have got to take against a guy like Roger."

Hewitt's run to the semi-finals should lift him to around 16 in the rankings when the new list is released today. A place in the top 16 would allow him to avoid the big names until at least the fourth round at the US Open.

"As I keep saying, the guys that have beaten me in the last few months have been the best players in the world, in the top two or three," Hewitt said.

"I'm obviously doing something right. It's just trying to get that breakthrough against the big names."

Federer said he expects Hewitt to be among the challengers for his title when the US Open begins.

"I think he's playing very well," he said. "It's been a good two weeks for him. He can still win the big tournaments. He knows that.

It's just about being consistent all year, which is what he has been able to do."

Toronto Cup final: Justin Henin bt Jelena Jankovic 7-6 7-5.