Third seed Lleyton Hewitt is into the quarter-finals at Wimbledon after seeing off an inconsistent challenge from Taylor Dent in four sets.

Hewitt won the fourth round match against the American 24th seed 6-4 6-4 6-7 (7-9) 6-3 after blowing two match points in the third set tiebreak.

The Australian will play 26th seed Feliciano Lopez in the quarters after the Spaniard upset No.10 Mario Ancic 6-4 6-4 6-2.

Hewitt looked to be racing to an easy win as Dent took a set to evolve from a mistake-prone hack to the dangerous threat he was supposed to be to the world No.2.

Hewitt had three break points to go 5-0 up, but Dent clawed out of trouble and then broke the 2002 champion in his next game.

It wasn't enough to save the set but it lifted Dent who became far more competitive from that point.

"It was good to get that one under my belt," Hewitt said of the first set.

"From then on I felt like I was in control of the match, getting my opportunities now and then as well."

After a dull opening, the match came alive when Hewitt was given a warning for verbal abuse as he fought to hold serve in the sixth game of the second set.

A late, but correct, overrule from umpire Enric Molina gave Dent the first of three break-back points, sending Hewitt marching to the official's chair in fury.

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