The 20-year-old Australian, who beat American Taylor Dent in five sets in the previous round, defeated world number 82 Younes El Aynaoui 7-5 5-7 6-4 7-6.

Hewitt, who won the Stella Artois event at Queen's Club before Wimbledon, never really produced his best strokes against the 6ft 4ins Moroccan, who hit some wonderful forehand winners.

However, the Australian delivered when he needed to, particularly in the fourth set tie-break.

"I've got to go for broke for one week now and hopefully I'll get that long to do it," said Hewitt.

The pair provided exciting fare for the Centre Court crowd, which included Sir Bobby Charlton, Bobby Robson, Sir Alex Ferguson, Dickie Bird, Darren Gough and Retief Goosen and an array of sporting luminaries.

But the match went with serve until the 11th game of the opening set, when El Aynaoui's forehand finally skewed off target, and Hewitt went on to take the set in 39 minutes.

The second set was a mirror image of the first, with the players doggedly duelling in long rallies mostly conducted from the baseline with one service break deciding the set.

El Aynaoui broke Hewitt in the 12th game of the set, as the Australian was pressured into errors just as a tie-break loomed with the Moroccan taking the set 7-5.