Hewitt earns top ranking in men's tennis

SYDNEY, Australia -- Lleyton Hewitt is now No. 1, the youngest man to hold the top ranking in tennis.

The 20-year-old Australian beat compatriot Patrick Rafter 7-5, 6-2 Friday at the Masters Cup and replaced slumping Gustavo Kuerten for the top spot at year's end.

Kuerten staggered to the finish by losing all three of his matches at this tournament and dropping nine of his last 10 matches this season.

"To do it at the age of 20 and to do it in Australia is a dream," Hewitt said. "It's an unbelievable feeling -- everything has gone my way this week. It couldn't have worked out better."

Jimmy Connors had been the youngest player to achieve the year-end No. 1 ranking. He achieved the feat at 22 in 1974, the year after computerized rankings were introduced.

Hewitt is one month younger than Marat Safin was when the Russian briefly held the top spot in November 2000.

Hewitt is the first Aussie to hold the No. 1 ranking at year's end and only the 12th player overall. This is the fourth straight year there has been a new No. 1, a first for the ATP.