WIMBLEDON, England -- Lleyton Hewitt insisted he would soon make his Grand Slam breakthrough after unfancied Frenchman Nicolas Escude beat him in five sets at Wimbledon on Monday.

The Australian fifth seed had won 15 consecutive matches on grass this season and was considered a leading contender for the men's singles title.

But Escude, seeded 24th, had other ideas as he secured a thrilling 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 fourth round victory on court two.

It left Hewitt reflecting on another missed opportunity at a Grand Slam event.

Ranked 550, he became the lowest-ranked player ever to win a senior Tour tournament when he captured the Adelaide title at age 16 in 1998.

But he has struggled to follow up that dramatic early breakthrough with consistent success at the Slams.

His best performance at a major remains his semifinal appearance at the U.S. Open last year.

"I had a slow start after that Adelaide win, but I'm still patient and confident that it's going to happen for me," he said.

"You have to be patient, especially because I'm only 20 years old.

"If I keep bombing out in the first couple of rounds in the next six to eight years, then I'll start wondering.

"But I've been developing my game recently and making sure I can still win when I'm 29 or 30. It's not going to happen overnight, it will take time."

Escude faces second-seeded American and 1992 champion Andre Agassi in the quarterfinals on Wednesday.

Escude, a 25-year-old whose best Grand Slam performance is a semifinal place at the Australian Open in 1998, said: "To beat Hewitt was one of the best performances of my career.

"I surprised myself with the way I played, but I am very happy.

"Agassi has beaten me every time we have played, so it will be a very tough match for me.

"But with the way I am playing, I have a chance. Yes, I think I have a good chance of beating him."