Lleyton Hewitt was beaten for the first time ever at the Sydney International tennis tournament when he crashed out 4-6 7-5 7-5 to little-known Italian Andreas Seppi.

It was Hewitt's first loss in 23 matches at the tournament, which he has won four times, and the first time he has been beaten on a hardcourt at the venue since the Sydney Olympics.

After barrelling through the first set in half an hour, Hewitt seemed to lose intensity and dropped his serve four times in succession in the second set.

He looked to have the quarter-final in his keeping when he led 4-1 in the final set, but Seppi fought back tenaciously, saving two match points at 4-5.

The Italian, who had courtside treatment for a knee injury during the third set, closed out the match when he slammed a forehand past a despairing Hewitt.

He will now play Igor Andreev of Russia in the semi-finals.

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