Australian hero Hewitt suffers upset

MELBOURNE, Australia -- Adios, Lleyton. G'day, Juan.

Third-seeded Lleyton Hewitt was upset 6-4, 6-4, 6-7 (8), 6-2 by Argentine Juan Ignacio Chela in the second round of the Australian Open on Thursday, reversing the outcome of their spiteful previous encounter at Melbourne Park.

Hewitt's shocking loss has opened a potentially easier road for top-ranked Roger Federer.

Unlike the third-round tussle in 2005, when Hewitt overcame Chela in four sets, with a boisterous crowd in his corner, the Rod Laver Arena was almost muted for the first two sets.

With injuries forcing defending champion Marat Safin, No. 2-ranked Rafael Nadal and four-time winner Andre Agassi out -- and Hewitt now eliminated -- Federer is the overwhelming favorite.

Federer's Swiss compatriot, former women's No. 1 Martina Hingis, continued her impressive comeback from an injury-enforced three years off with a 6-1, 6-1 win over Finland's Emma Laine.

The three-time Australian Open champion has dropped only five games in two matches.

Losses by No. 5 Mary Pierce and No. 21 Ava Ivanovic mean that Hingis has no seeded players in her part of the draw until the quarterfinals, when she could face second-seeded Kim Clijsters.

In Friday's early action, Maria Sharapova routed Jelena Kostanic 6-0, 6-1 to advance to the fourth round and a possible showdown with Serena Williams.