Melbourne, Jan 13: Australia's Foreign Affairs Minister Stephen Smith has hailed Matthew Hayden as being among country's top three left-handers, following his retirement.

The minister paid tribute to Hayden who announced his retirement today, saying the 37-year-old was "a great Australian," and added that Hayden could count himself among select company, the Herald Sun reported.

Sydney - Women's seeds stormed through into the quarter-finals as Lleyton Hewitt made a typical fighting debut on Tuesday at the Medibank International.

The four-time champion, who is playing only his second event since hip surgery in August, had to spend two hours in baking summer heat to overcome Julien Benneteau 5-7, 6-2, 6-4.

The unseeded Australian, trying to lift a ranking which has fallen to 71st, fell behind 1-4 in the first set, which Benneteau won. But Hewitt scrambled back into contention to earn the hard-fought win, through 13 winners and seven aces.

Melbourne, Jan 13: Australian opener Matthew Hayden has got his timing right in the end by announcing his retirement, the Courier Mail has said.

Hayden's wonderful career deserves the rousing send-off he will receive before a sell-out crowd at the Gabba today.

To play on in South Africa and try and prove to people he still had it would have been a journey too far and at the age of 37 nothing gets easier for international sportsmen, the paper said.

Melbourne, Jan 13: Australian pace legend Glenn McGrath has that his former Test teammate Matthew Hayden is an "amazing person" who has nothing left to prove in cricket.

"It's been an absolute honour and a privilege to play with him and even more so to call him a mate. And to me Matty is a legend of the game; he's got nothing left to prove. His career stands alone," the Courier Mail quoted McGrath, as saying.

Melbourne, Jan 13: Out of form Australian opener Matthew Hayden has decided to quit cricket after an outstanding international career of 15 years.

Hayden will be given a rousing farewell with a lap of the ground during the innings break at the Twenty20 match between South Africa and Australia at the Gabba on Tuesday night, FOX Sports reported.

"Today I'm announcing my retirement from representative cricket, effective immediately. I know that now is the time to move on," Hayden told reporters.

Melbourne - Roger Federer will begin his Australian Open tuneup on Wednesday at the AAMI Classic, ignoring bookmaker chatter that his Grand Slam title hopes are under siege from newcomer Andy Murray.

The Swiss takes on old foe Carlos Moya in the eight-man event which runs through Saturday, providing the field with top practise for the Open which begins on Monday.

The fact that Murray and Federer are tipped at an equal 3.50 dollars (one dollar earns 3.50 back) to win the Open by Australian oddsmakers took the Swiss by surprise.