NEW YORK -- The rematch was satisfyingly similar for Lleyton Hewitt, and without the controversy.

	Lleyton Hewitt beat James Blake in five sets once again, but without the controversy of last year.

The defending champion beat James Blake 7-6 (5), 3-6, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 in the third round of the U.S. Open on Saturday, exactly one year after Hewitt won another five-set match known as much for the Australian's comments as his comeback from a 2-1 deficit in sets.

A year ago in the second round, Hewitt was called for two foot faults by the same linesman, then approached the referee.

''Look at him and look at him,'' Hewitt said of Blake and the linesman, who are both black. ''You tell me what the similarity is. Get him (the linesman) off the court.''

Hewitt offered a written apology and said he and Blake get along well.

The crowd favored Blake on Saturday, but Hewitt said, ''I just block it out.''

Of the controversy, he said, ''I try to block everything out and use my positive energy.''

After the match, Hewitt removed his cap and shook hands at the net with Blake, who congratulated him and said, ''Sorry about some of the crowd,'' Hewitt recalled. ''I didn't hear much. I was pretty focused.''

The tournament's top-seeded player had his hands full with Blake, seeded 25th. But with the final set even at two games each, Hewitt won the next two games at love before allowing just one point on his service in the next game to take a 5-2 lead.

Blake held service but quickly fell behind 40-0 in the decisive game. Blake did save two match points, then Hewitt won with his 15th ace of the match.

''I felt like I did a great job throughout the match, but I just played one really bad game,'' Blake said of the sixth game of the final set when he didn't get a point on his own serve.

Blake had 86 unforced errors to 40 for Hewitt.

Elsewhere among the men, Andre Agassi, seeded sixth, beat Ramon Delgado 6-2, 6-1, 6-2. Jiri Novak, the 14th seed, won when No. 22 Marcelo Rios retired with a right knee injury before the third set after falling behind 6-3, 6-3. Novak's next opponent is Hewitt.