The Rod Laver Arena dressed up for what could be the last match of a long and successful career of one of its idols. He put up a 'battle', as he had announced, but he couldn't overcome another court 'warrior' like Ferrer.
He didn't give up. He celebrated every point. He got motivated. But it wasn't enough for the 'aussie', 34 years old. Ferrer, although it wasn't an easy match, signed Hewitt's last day with a 6-2, 6-4, and 6-4 victory and now awaits American Steve Johnson, thirty-first favorite, who defeated Brazilian Thomaz Bellucci by 6-3, 6-2, and 6-2.
The Spaniard, semifinalist in Australia in 2011, was too much for the current 308th in the world rankings. After breaking Hewitt's serve for the first time in the fifth game, he took control of the match and took the first two sets 6-2 and 6-4, and had the third set in his favor, but in the sixth game, the Australian took his serve to make it 3-3 and get back into the match.
Hewitt, absolutely supported by the Melbourne crowd, got motivated point by point. But David Ferrer's reaction was not long in coming and immediately re-established his advantage to not lose it and seal the victory by 6-4.
The Australian, who was world number one at twenty years old and with two Grand Slam titles, never gave up but eventually confirmed his farewell, emotional and cheered on. He was accompanied by his children, who came down to the court with him, and his wife, very emotional, shed several tears, like Lleyton himself.