Hewitt's title marathon ends fabulous year

After repeating as Tennis Masters Cup champion and earning the year–end No. 1 ranking for the second straight year, Lleyton Hewitt knows what he's doing next.

"Now I can put my feet up and go on holidays," Hewitt said after outlasting Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain 7–5, 7–5, 2–6, 2–6, 6–4 in Shanghai yesterday.

It was only the latest of his marathon matches in this season–ending, eight–player tournament.

"Every match this week was a grind," said Hewitt, who beat Albert Costa, Marat Safin and Roger Federer while losing to Carlos Moya on the way to the final. "I didn't have one easy match. ... I think maybe a couple of three–hour matches and a four–hour match nearly. I don't know how I held up at all."

But he did, and when his backhand lob cleared Ferrero at the net and landed a foot inside the baseline, the Australian fell onto his back, his arms raised toward the ceiling, partly in celebration but also in exhaustion.

"There were times during the match when I was hurting and I was struggling," he said. "My legs just felt dead out there and I sort of put everything in to try to end up winning the first set. When I came back and won the second as well, I just had a bit of a letdown and just sort of hit the wall halfway through the third set. That never–say–die attitude helped out again today."

For Ferrero, it was a disappointing end. He served for the first set, only to lose six straight games. Then he was twice up a break in the final set before Hewitt made his winning run.

"Right now I don't feel very happy, but if I'm thinking in the year, I have to be happy," Ferrero said. "Right now I finish the year really playing good tennis. So, seeing the whole year, I'm really happy."

Nerves and weariness showed in both players' games down the stretch as they sometimes missed badly while at other times came up with brilliant winners.

In the final set, it was Ferrero who blinked first, and it cost him. He hit an inside–out forehand wide to start the game. After hitting a service winner, he put up an easy lazy fly that Hewitt swatted home a winner.

Ferrero's backhand into the net gave Hewitt match point, but he promptly hit a forehand wide.

On the second match point, Ferrero drilled a ball deep into the court and followed it to the net. Hewitt, sensing his opponent was camped close and ready to volley a passing shot, responded with the winning lob.

Hewitt's year–ending victory matches that of his girlfriend, Kim Clijsters of Belgium. A week ago, Clijsters stunned top–seeded Serena Williams to win the season–ending WTA Championships. Right after Hewitt wrapped up his victory, he received a telephone call from Clijsters.

Besides earning US$700,000 for the victory, Hewitt also won a new Mercedes–Benz. Earlier in the week the Australian earned the year–ending No. 1 ranking for the second straight year, becoming the first player since Pete Sampras in 1997 to win consecutive season–ending championships.