Hewitt hit hard by Dent

The young American pups have certainly made their mark. On Wednesday it was Andy Roddick. Yesterday it was Taylor Dent's turn to inflict his over-sized and ideal game on the Wimbledon grass.

Dent not only pushed one of the best returners of service in the world, Lleyton Hewitt, to five fraught sets - 1-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-7, 6-3 - but in the process sent down two serves which shattered Wimbledon records.

The first, a 141m.p.h. delivery, was 2m.p.h. faster than Greg Rusedski's 139m.p.h. record set earlier this week while his second, a 144m.p.h. fifth-set serve again pushed the Wimbledon record even higher.

Dent was clearly in the mood for hitting even faster and Rusedski's fastest-ever serve of 149m.p.h. set in Indian Wells in 1998 was in constant threat.

Qualifier Dent, who is the son of former Australian player Phil, was playing in only his second ever win at a Grand Slam event.

The same age as Hewitt, but not as high a profile, he brutalised his opponent's serve in the first set, shaking the Australian 6-1 to take a psychological leap. The six-foot two-inch Dent was frighteningly strong, his serve giving him numerous opportunities to come to the net for winners. But Hewitt crept back in taking the second on a tie-break and let the American know that he was in for the long haul.

As so often happens against the number five seed, he picked up his game as Dent dropped the tempo slightly and at a set each the momentum swung the other way. Everyone including Dent knew that Hewitt is made from a mix of coarse gravel and steel filings and that the match would be a cat fight. So it proved.

Little separated the two on the fourth set but, serving at 5-6, counter-puncher Hewitt somehow managed two match-points which Dent smoked away.

Another tie-break and this time the American came through forcing the game into bad evening light and again taking the psychological advantage.

It was, however, the hyperactive Hewitt who again pressed in the gladiatorial fifth set but squandered two chances to go up a double break.

Still, it was he who remained composed. Dent saved a third match-point at 5-2 before Hewitt served out for the match, sliding to the ground as Dent patted his final return harmlessly into the net.

"The crowd was overwhelming. They were going crazy and I got the shivers. 144m.p.h. sounds good," said Dent. "I pack my right arm in ice every night. It's nice but I'd feel better if I'd won the match.

"It's strange in a way because I'm from Australia because of my dad but my home is in America. For me now it's finding that consistency."

Andre Agassi, escaping the showers that disrupted yesterday's play, brought an introspective mood to his media conference after beating British wild-card Jamie Delgado in three sets. It was quite a contrast to Hewitt's compatriot Pat Rafter, last year's self-confessed choker in the final against Sampras.

Rafter, who advanced in four sets 7-5, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 against the unseeded Slava Dosedel cut a casual figure - a type of chummy 'well, you know I choked in the Wimbledon final, that's life, got a beer mate'?

Polar opposites from Agassi, Rafter was initially troubled by the Czech player, who he had beaten in the opening round last year, before seamlessly volleying him into a sweat in the following two sets. No such Agassi styled intensity from the Australian.

"I guess when I came here first I was never really a contender," he said. "So I'd always enjoy myself in London."

One of the few players who can engage in a rapport with the media without feeling he is being crucified, Rafter discussed Rugby Union, Rugby League, cricket and tennis before loping off. Aussie cricketers Adam Gilchrist and Rickey Pointing were in the locker room before the match.

"What time will they be playing?" Rafter inquired of the Lions match on Saturday. Realising he could be on court soon after the rugby, which would have the same effect on him as spinach has on Popeye, he thought it best not to watch.

"I don't want to get that pumped up, you know. I don't want to come down if they (Australia) lose and try and beat the s*** out of some English guy, you know."

That would be difficult given that Henman and Rusedski are in the other half of the draw but the point was well taken.

Rafter, who is still considering retiring at the end of this season, meets Belgian Christophe Rochus in the third round.