Hewitt close to another title

CINCINNATI, Aug. 10 (UPI) -- Lleyton Hewitt remains on course to win his 11th consecutive ATP final.

The top-seeded Australian fired 20 aces, converted four of five break-point chances and rallied Saturday night to beat Chile's Fernando Gonzalez, 6-7 (3-7), 7-5, 6-2, to reach the final of the Tennis Masters Series-Cincinnati.

In Sunday's title match, Hewitt encounters No. 16 Carlos Moya of Spain, who dropped just nine points on his serve earlier Saturday en route to a 6-3, 6-4 victory over fellow countryman and eighth seed Juan Carlos Ferrero.

Dating to January 2001, when he captured the Sydney hardcourt title, Hewitt has won 10 straight finals, including the Wimbledon title last month.

The 21-year-old displayed the grit that earned him those victories in Saturday's semifinal.

Gonzalez attempted to overpower the world No. 1 with the rocket-like forehand that help him upset No. 12 Andy Roddick in the quarterfinals.

After dropping the first-set tiebreak, Hewitt managed to save five break points in the second and broke Gonzalez's serve in the 11th game to take a 6-5 lead before serving out the set.

"He shows why he's No. 1," Gonzalez said. "I mean, in the tough moments, he plays good. With Lleyton, I attack him and the ball is coming always, always, always."

Hewitt broke his opponent's serve again in the opening game of the final set and then cruised to victory.

Hewitt may have established himself as the top hardcourt player in the world in Friday's quarterfinals.

He recorded five service breaks and battled for a 7-5, 6-3 victory over sixth seed Andre Agassi to reach the semifinals.

Moya triumphed on Saturday in the first all-Spanish semifinal in the history of this event.

Moya beat Ferrero for just the second time in seven all-time meetings. His only other win came in their first career encounter at the 1999 Barcelona claycourt event.

"My forehand is working really well lately," Moya said. "I tried to control the game with my forehand and I was lucky to hit many winners today."

Moya also became the first Spanish finalist at Cincinnati in 29 years. Manuel Orantes lost to Romania's Ilie Nastase in the 1973 final.