NEW YORK — Displaying the shots and grit that earned him a U.S. Open trophy a dozen years ago, Lleyton Hewitt came back to surprise 2009 champion Juan Martin del Potro 6-4, 5-7, 3-6, 7-6 (2), 6-1 in the second round.

The four-hour match Friday night was the ninth time in the past 10 years that two past U.S. Open title winners faced each other at Flushing Meadows. Hewitt was involved four times, losing the other three.

The 32-year-old Hewitt is a former No. 1 who won the U.S. Open in 2001, and Wimbledon in 2002, but has been troubled by injuries more recently and is now ranked 66th.

But the Australian repeatedly scrambled along the baseline to stretch for passing winners against the sixth-seeded del Potro.

Hewitt next faces 102nd-ranked Evgeny Donskoy.

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  • Serena Williams

    Serena Williams, of the United States, returns to Yaroslava Shvedova, of Kazakhstan, during the third round of the 2013 U.S. Open tennis tournament, Friday, Aug. 30, 2013, in New York. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

  • Serena Williams

    Serena Williams, of the United States, serves to Yaroslava Shvedova, of Kazakhstan, during the third round of the 2013 U.S. Open tennis tournament, Friday, Aug. 30, 2013, in New York. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

  • Lleyton Hewitt

    Lleyton Hewitt, of Australia, falls to the court after diving for a shot by Juan Martin del Potro, of Argentina, during a second round match at the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Friday, Aug. 30, 2013, in New York. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

  • Juan Martin del Potro, Lleyton Hewitt

    Juan Martin del Potro, of Argentina, congratulates Lleyton Hewitt, of Australia, after Hewitt defeated del Potro in a second round match at the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Friday, Aug. 30, 2013, in New York. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

  • Lleyton Hewitt

    Lleyton Hewitt, of Australia, reacts after defeating Juan Martin del Potro, of Argentina, in a second round match at the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Friday, Aug. 30, 2013, in New York. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

  • Juan Martin del Potro

    Juan Martin del Potro, of Argentina, waves to fans as he leaves the court after being defeated by Lleyton Hewitt, of Australia, in a second round match at the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Friday, Aug. 30, 2013, in New York. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

  • Lleyton Hewitt

    Lleyton Hewitt, of Australia, sticks out his tongue as he celebrates after defeating Juan Martin del Potro, of Argentina, during the second round of the 2013 U.S. Open tennis tournament, Friday, Aug. 30, 2013, in New York. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

  • Lleyton Hewitt

    Lleyton Hewitt, of Australia, celebrates after defeating Juan Martin del Potro, of Argentina, during the second round of the 2013 U.S. Open tennis tournament, Friday, Aug. 30, 2013, in New York. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

  • Juan Martin del Potro

    Juan Martin del Potro, of Argentina, wipes his face during a second round match against Lleyton Hewitt, of Australia, at the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Friday, Aug. 30, 2013, in New York. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

  • Lleyton Hewitt

    Lleyton Hewitt, of Australia, returns against Juan Martin del Potro, of Argentina, during the second round of the 2013 U.S. Open tennis tournament, Friday, Aug. 30, 2013, in New York. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

  • Lleyton Hewitt

    Lleyton Hewitt, of Australia, returns a shot to Juan Martin del Potro, of Argentina, during a second round match at the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Friday, Aug. 30, 2013, in New York. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

  • Lleyton Hewitt

    Lleyton Hewitt, of Australia, eyes the ball on a return against Juan Martin del Potro, of Argentina, during the second round of the 2013 U.S. Open tennis tournament, Friday, Aug. 30, 2013, in New York. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

  • Lleyton Hewitt

    Lleyton Hewitt, of Australia, reacts during a second round match against Juan Martin del Potro, of Argentina, at the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Friday, Aug. 30, 2013, in New York. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

  • Lleyton Hewitt

    Lleyton Hewitt, of Australia, leaps to serve against Juan Martin del Potro, of Argentina, during the second round of the 2013 U.S. Open tennis tournament, Friday, Aug. 30, 2013, in New York. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

  • Lleyton Hewitt

    Lleyton Hewitt, of Australia, chases a return against Juan Martin del Potro, of Argentina, during the second round of the 2013 U.S. Open tennis tournament, Friday, Aug. 30, 2013, in New York. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

  • Juan Martin del Potro

    Juan Martin del Potro, of Argentina, returns a shot to Lleyton Hewitt, of Australia, during a second round match at the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Friday, Aug. 30, 2013, in New York. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

  • Juan Martin del Potro

    Juan Martin del Potro, of Argentina, chases the ball on a return against Lleyton Hewitt, of Australia, during the second round of the 2013 U.S. Open tennis tournament, Friday, Aug. 30, 2013, in New York. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

  • Lleyton Hewitt

    Lleyton Hewitt, of Australia, reacts after a point against Juan Martin del Potro, of Argentina, during a second round match at the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Friday, Aug. 30, 2013, in New York. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

  • Kevin Anderson, of South Africa, left, serves to Marcos Baghdatis, of Cyprus, during the 2013 U.S. Open tennis tournament, Friday, Aug. 30, 2013, in New York. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

  • Juan Martin del Potro

    Juan Martin del Potro, of Argentina, returns a shot to Lleyton Hewitt, of Australia, during a second round match at the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Friday, Aug. 30, 2013, in New York. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

  • Juan Martin del Potro

    Juan Martin del Potro, of Argentina, reacts after winning the second set against Lleyton Hewitt, of Australia, during a second round match at the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Friday, Aug. 30, 2013, in New York. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

  • Kaia Kanepi

    Kaia Kanepi of Estonia returns a shot against Angelique Kerber of Germany during the third round of the 2013 U.S. Open tennis tournament, Friday, Aug. 30, 2013, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Kmonicek)

  • Mike Bryan, Bob Bryan

    Mike Bryan, right, smashes a shot as Bob Bryan looks on during a second round doubles match against Eric Butorac and Frederik Nielsen of Denmark at the 2013 U.S. Open tennis tournament, Friday, Aug. 30, 2013, in New York. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

  • Stanislas Wawrinka

    Stanislas Wawrinka, of Switzerland, serves against Ivo Karlovic, of Croatia, during the second round of the U.S. Open tennis tournament on Friday, Aug. 30, 2013, in New York. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

  • Marcos Baghdatis

    Marcos Baghdatis, of Cyprus, returns to Kevin Anderson, of South Africa, during the second round of the 2013 U.S. Open tennis tournament, Friday, Aug. 30, 2013, in New York. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

  • Marcos Baghdatis

    Marcos Baghdatis, of Cyprus, serves to Kevin Anderson, of South Africa, during the second round of the 2013 U.S. Open tennis tournament, Friday, Aug. 30, 2013, in New York. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

  • Stanislas Wawrinka

    Stanislas Wawrinka, of Switzerland, tosses a serve against Ivo Karlovic, of Croatia, during the second round of the 2013 U.S. Open tennis tournament, Friday, Aug. 30, 2013, in New York. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

  • Mike Bryan, Bob Bryan

    Bob Bryan, left, and Mike Bryan prepare to return a shot against Eric Butorac and Frederik Nielsen of Denmark during a second round doubles match at the 2013 U.S. Open tennis tournament, Friday, Aug. 30, 2013, in New York. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

  • Tommy Haas

    Tommy Haas of Germany serves against Lu Yen-Hsun of Taiwan during the second round of the 2013 U.S. Open tennis tournament, Friday, Aug. 30, 2013, in New York. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

  • Juan Martin del Potro

    Juan Martin del Potro, of Argentina, returns a shot to Lleyton Hewitt, of Australia, during a second round match at the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Friday, Aug. 30, 2013, in New York. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

  • Juan Martin del Potro, of Argentina, removes an insect from the court by using his racquet during a second round match against Lleyton Hewitt, of Australia, at the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Friday, Aug. 30, 2013, in New York. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

  • Sabine Lisicki

    Sabine Lisicki of Germany serves to Ekaterina Makarova of Russia during the third round of the 2013 U.S. Open tennis tournament, Friday, Aug. 30, 2013, in New York. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

  • Ekaterina Makarova

    Ekaterina Makarova of Russia reacts after a shot against Sabine Lisicki of Germany during the second round of the 2013 U.S. Open tennis tournament, Friday, Aug. 30, 2013, in New York. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

  • Andy Murray

    Andy Murray of Great Britain returns a shot against Leonardo Mayer of Argentina during the second round of the 2013 U.S. Open tennis tournament, Friday, Aug. 30, 2013, in New York. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)

  • Mike Bryan, Bob Bryan

    Mike Bryan, left, and Bob Bryan pump fists after a point against Eric Butorac and Freerik Nielsen of Denmark during a second round doubles match at the 2013 U.S. Open tennis tournament, Friday, Aug. 30, 2013, in New York. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

  • Sabine Lisicki

    Sabine Lisicki of Germany return a shot against against Ekaterina Makarova of Russia during the third round of the 2013 U.S. Open tennis tournament, Friday, Aug. 30, 2013, in New York. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

  • Novak Djokovic

    Novak Djokovic of Serbia waves to the crowd after beating Benjamin Becker of Germany during the second round of the 2013 U.S. Open tennis tournament, Friday, Aug. 30, 2013, in New York. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

  • Juan Martin del Potro

    Juan Martin del Potro, of Argentina, bites his racquet after missing a shot against Lleyton Hewitt, of Australia, during a second round match at the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Friday, Aug. 30, 2013, in New York. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

  • Juan Martin del Potro

    Juan Martin del Potro, of Argentina, bites his racquet after missing a shot against Lleyton Hewitt, of Australia, during a second round match at the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Friday, Aug. 30, 2013, in New York. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

  • Kaia Kanepi

    Kaia Kanepi of Estonia returns a shot against Angelique Kerber of Germany during the third round of the 2013 U.S. Open tennis tournament, Friday, Aug. 30, 2013, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Kmonicek)

  • Kaia Kanepi

    Kaia Kanepi of Estonia returns a shot against Angelique Kerber of Germany during the third round of the 2013 U.S. Open tennis tournament, Friday, Aug. 30, 2013, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Kmonicek)

  • Angelique Kerber

    Angelique Kerber of Germany returns a shot against Kaia Kanepi of Estonia during the third round of the 2013 U.S. Open tennis tournament, Friday, Aug. 30, 2013, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Kmonicek)

  • Angelique Kerber

    Angelique Kerber of Germany returns a shot to Kaia Kanepi of Estonia during the third round of the 2013 U.S. Open tennis tournament, Friday, Aug. 30, 2013, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Kmonicek)

  • Zheng Jie

    China’s Zheng Jie serves to Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain during the third round of the 2013 U.S. Open tennis tournament, Friday, Aug. 30, 2013, in New York. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

  • Carla Suarez Navarro

    Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain reacts after beating Zheng Jie of China during the third round of the 2013 U.S. Open tennis tournament, Friday, Aug. 30, 2013, in New York. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

  • Carla Suarez Navarro

    Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain fails to return a serve by Zheng Jie of China during the third round of the 2013 U.S. Open tennis tournament, Friday, Aug. 30, 2013, in New York. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

  • Carla Suarez Navarro

    Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain returns a shot against Zheng Jie of China during the third round of the 2013 U.S. Open tennis tournament, Friday, Aug. 30, 2013, in New York. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

  • A spectator holds an umbrella as Andy Murray of Great Britain, left, and Leonardo Mayer of Argentina volley at the net in the second round of the 2013 U.S. Open tennis tournament, Friday, Aug. 30, 2013, in New York. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)

  • Juan Martin del Potro

    Juan Martin del Potro, of Argentina, serves to Lleyton Hewitt, of Australia, during a second round match at the U.S. Open tennis tournament Friday, Aug. 30, 2013, in New York. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

  • Lleyton Hewitt

    Lleyton Hewitt, of Australia, reacts after winning the first set against Juan Martin del Potro, of Argentina, during a second round match at the U.S. Open tennis tournament Friday, Aug. 30, 2013, in New York. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

  • Lleyton Hewitt

    Lleyton Hewitt, of Australia, returns a shot to Juan Martin del Potro, of Argentina, during a second round match at the U.S. Open tennis tournament Friday, Aug. 30, 2013, in New York. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)