Originally Published: January 21, 2004

At the Australian Open today

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By Cynthia Faulkner
ESPN.com

One of the best matches of the tournament could happen in the fourth round today as former No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt plays current No. 2 Roger Federer.

This match will take place on Rod Laver Arena with the full force of Australia rooting for Hewitt, who has never made it past this round in his home Slam. He has, however, led his country to victory in the Davis Cup at home. That's also the last time these two met -- the 2003 Davis Cup semifinals. They played on hard court in Melbourne with the match going the distance and Hewitt winning, 5-7, 2-6, 7-6, 7-5, 6-1.

Hewitt owns a 7-2 record against Federer, however, that Davis Cup match is their only meeting since Federer began his successful run at Wimbledon last year.

Raymond
Raymond

Potential show stoppers
  • After drawing attention for upsetting Venus Williams, Lisa Raymond, 30, faces Tatiana Golovin, who turned 16 on Sunday. Experience favors Raymond, however, Golovin has worked out a few times this past year with Brad Gilbert, who just happens to coach No. 1 Andy Roddick.

  • Kim Clijsters owns a 3-0 record against Silvia Farina Elia, although Farina Elia usually manages to take one set off of the No. 2 seed.

  • Argentine countrymen face off as David Nalbandian takes on Guillermo Canas, who upset Tim Henman in five sets to reach the fourth round. These two met only once before at the 2002 Tennis Masters Series-Madrid on hard court. Nalbandian won 4-6, 6-3, 6-3. Canas is typically more successful on clay, while Nalbandian has had more success on the faster grass and hard courts. Nalbandian, who was the runner-up at Wimbledon in 2002, said earlier this week that he's eager to reach another major final. Nalbandian nearly did just that at the U.S. Open after he had match point against Andy Roddick in the semifinals.

    Rubin
    Rubin

  • Deja vu. No. 9 seed Chanda Rubin lost to No. 6 seed Anastasia Myskina in the fourth round of the Australian Open last year 4-6, 6-4, 6-1.

  • No. 10 Mark Philippoussis is Australia's other hope as he meets Hicham Arazi of Morocco. Like Hewitt, Philippoussis has never gotten out of the fourth round of the Australian Open.

    Cynthia Faulkner is the tennis editor for ESPN.com.