Lleyton Hewitt has fought his way into the fourth round of the French Open with a gutsy win over Dutchman Martin Verkerk.

Hewitt came back from two sets to one and a break down in the fourth to win the third round match 6-2 3-6 4-6 6-2 6-1.

The 12th seed looked gone when he lost his second service game of the fourth set but turned the match around when he immediately broke Verkerk back and won the next four games to take the set in 18 minutes.

Verkerk called in a trainer to treat him for cramp between the fourth and fifth sets and Hewitt showed no mercy, running him around the court as the 19th seed lost the power which had won him the second and third sets.

After starting brilliantly, but losing touch in the middle of the match under an onslaught of piercing groundstrokes from last year's finalist, Hewitt utterly dominated the latter stages of the match to move into the fourth round at Roland Garros for the fourth time.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP