Robin Soderling of Sweden reacts after defeating Lleyton Hewitt of Australia at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, June 23, 2011. [Photo/Agencies]

Lleyton Hewitt of Australia reacts during his match against Robin Soderling of Sweden at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, June 23, 2011. [Photo/Agencies]

Booming serve

His booming serve began to work better in the third set, however, and the 30-year-old Hewitt, whose career has been blighted by injuries in recent years, made more unforced errors.

Serving at 5-6, the Australian suddenly found himself break point down and Soderling pounced, pumping his chest in relief after clinching the set.

The aces started flowing from Soderling's racket in the fourth set and Hewitt struggled to make an impression on his opponent's serve.

Soderling again managed to break at the crucial moment and send the match into a deciding set.

Hewitt roared a huge "C'mon" after holding serve at 1-1 and when he broke Soderling in the following game an upset loomed again.

But Soderling raised his game to break straight back and at 5-4 he produced a brilliant forehand crosscourt winner to help set up three match points, the first of which he converted when Hewitt lamely netted a forehand.

Soderling sunk to his knees and beat his chest before the players left the court to a standing ovation.

Hewitt, Wimbledon champion in 2002 and US open winner in 2001, tried to remain positive after the loss.

"It's hard at the moment. But in the end, I feel like I hit the ball pretty well," he said. "I hit it a lot better than I did a couple days ago and I needed to against a guy like Soderling.