Blake hailed Hewitt, noting ''Lleyton served great and didn't make many mistakes.'' The Stella Artois Champion in 2000-2, Hewitt had not won a tennis title since taking his 4th Sydney crown in Jan. last year. His loss to Marat Safin in the centenary Australian Open final was the start of an unwanted sequence for the fiery Australian. Defeat in the Indian Wells Masters series to Roger Federer was followed by similar disappointments in deciders this year. Hewitt started favourite in both Las Vegas, where he was beaten by Blake, and also San Jose, where he was also beaten by Scot Andy Murray. Those disappointments disappeared in a matter of only sixty-six minutes last night as Hewitt found much of the venom and precision of old.

Hewitt surged to a 5-1 lead last night before Blake's nerves settled late in the 1st set.
Under increasing pressure, Hewitt survived Blake's  revival to take the set after Thirty twominutes.
He broke the American's serve in the 7th game of the 2nd set to run away to a 5-3 lead.
Watched by his wife Bec, daughter Mia, parents Glynn and Cherilyn and coach Roger Rasheed, Hewitt gave vent to an huge roar of ''C'mon'' when Blake's forehand return sailed wide on match point.
''It's the 1st title I've won since being married and having Mia, so it means a lot to all of us,'' he said.