Hewitt beats Sampras,
Henman for title

Australia's Lleyton Hewitt beat home favorite Tim Henman, 7-6, 7-6, to retain his Stella Artois ATP title at London's Queen's Club Sunday.

Hewitt, who earlier in the day came from a set behind to beat Pete Sampras, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, in the semifinals, was in blistering form on the Center Court as he consigned Henman to another runners-up finish at the $800,000 grasscourt tournament.

"It is pretty amazing to come out here and defend my title like this... beating two of the best grasscourt players in the world," Hewitt said.

"I was pretty disappointed not to have played yesterday because all of the rain... you get four seasons in one day here.

"But today I came out and am really pleased with the way I played," he said before collecting the winners' check for $91,500.

Henman, losing finalist here in 1999, looked the stronger in early exchanges and earned the first break point of the match.

Hewitt saved it, though, to hang on for 4-4 as storm clouds loomed above the west London club.

The players left the court with Henman leading 6-5 as light rain threatened to disrupt the day's play, but returned just 12 minutes later to resume.

Hewitt held to force a tiebreak and broke immediately when Henman pushed a brittle forehand long.

Two more forehand errors gave Hewitt a 3-0 lead and Henman never recovered. A mis-fired backhand gave the third seed the set 7-3 in the tiebreak after 54 minutes.

Hewitt turned up the heat and Henman was forced to save four break points in the sixth game and three in the eighth as the Australian continued to hold his serve comfortably.

But in the ninth game Henman finally got the breakthrough his attacking play deserved.

He leaned into a forehand service return, almost catching it on the half-volley. His momentum carried him to the net and he punched away a firm forehand volley for the first break of the match.

Hewitt rallied, however, and broke back in the next game on his ninth break point of the match.

The Australian did well to nose in front 6-5 having to fight off three more break points for Henman.

Henman, who earlier beat Wayne Ferreira of South Africa 5-7 6-4 6-2 in his semifinal, punched right back to force a second tiebreak.

Again it was Hewitt who scored the first point, rifling a forehand passing shot past the advancing Briton. He raced into a 5-2 lead before clinching victory 7-3 when a Henman approach shot drifted over the baseline.

"It is great to beat two of the Wimbledon favorites here on grass," the Australian said.

"I love returning to tournaments where I have played well in the past and I am really pleased to have defended here."

Hewitt said his celebrations would be muted as he was playing in another tournament in Den Bosch, Netherlands, next week.

Henman was not despondent after the narrowest of defeats.

"I cannot have too many complaints," the 11th-ranked Briton said. "I just couldn't come up with the goods.

"But all credit to Lleyton. He just played really well, he is a tough competitor on any surface.

"As I said, I can't have any complaints. I would have loved to have won obviously but when I look at my game it gives me a lot of positive vibes."

Henman said he was going to rest and unwind before Wimbledon which starts on June 25.

"I will just let my body rest and get ready for having another crack at it in a week's time," he said.