World number one in tennis Roger Federer has defeated Lleyton Hewitt of Australia in four sets to move into the fourth round of the US Open.

The Swiss star won the match against the 31st ranked Australian, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5, 6-4.

Federer has now won 14 consecutive matches against the formerly top-ranked Hewitt, including victories over the Australian in the 2004 final and 2005 semifinals at Flushing Meadows.

The Swiss star was his own worst enemy in the first set, committing 23 unforced errors compared to only nine by his opponent.

He only had half as many in the next three sets.

Federer – owner of a record 15 grand slam singles titles – has not lost at the US Open since a fourth-round setback against David Nalbandian in 2003.

He will now face either the American James Blake (21) or Spain's Tommy Robredo (14), in his bid to win a sixth straight US Open.

Fellow Swiss Marco Chiudinelli was defeated 6-4, 7-5, 7-5 by Russia's Nikolay Davydenko. The 27-year-old Basel player said he had been proud of his game but admitted that his forehand had let him down during the match against Davydenko, who is ranked eighth.

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