Greg Rusedski's remarkable comeback run at the Stuttgart Masters Series ended with a 6-4, 6-4 quarter-final defeat at the hands of Lleyton Hewitt.

The unseeded British No 2 failed in his bid to reach a second consecutive semi-final at the Schleyerhalle as Hewitt earned a break in each set to pave the way for victory.

''My back was a little stiff,'' said Rusedski, who wore a hot-pack support during the match. But it didn't affect the match at all. I have no excuses. Lleyton played really well.

''I didn't serve as well as I could, but I played better than I did last week in Basle.

''But if you don't hit the corners with the serve you'll be in a lot of trouble with him.''

The Australian teenager moved into a showdown today with Russian Olympic champion Yevgeny Kafelnikov, who beat Holland's Sjeng Schalken 4-6 6-1 6-4.

Hewitt, winner of four titles this year and still chasing a place in the eight-man season finals this month in Lisbon, had disposed of British No 1 Tim Henman.

Rusedski had beaten top seeded US Open winner Marat Safin in a confidence-building third-round upset.

But he suffered his second defeat against Hewitt in as many weeks after dropping a match against the pony-tailed Aussie in Basle's quarter-finals last Friday.

Rusedski has only begun to find his form after a ponderous recovery this year from December foot surgery.

The Canadian-born Brit will rest next week before tackling the last Masters of the season at Paris Bercy starting on November 13.

He is well out of the chase for Lisbon on 73rd but is already looking ahead to a fast start in 2001.

Hewitt nosed ahead for the first time in the match with a break for 4-3 and consolidated on serve.

In the second set Hewitt broke in the opening game and ran his lead out to 2-0 before Rusedski came up with a love game to hold for 1-2.

Hewitt took his margin to 4-2, held to love to 5-3 and wrapped up his place in the tournament last four.