Hewitt survives upset theme, captures title

WIMBLEDON, England -- Lleyton Hewitt made certain this Wimbledon of upsets wouldn't end with one. The No. 1-ranked player kept his temper in check, his strokes on the lines, and wasn't fazed by rain delays or a streaker's show.

Hewitt won his second Grand Slam title with a command performance, beating greener-than-grass David Nalbandian 6-1, 6-3, 6-2 Sunday in a baseliners' duel that produced the most lopsided Wimbledon final since 1984.

At 21, the Australian is the tournament's youngest champion since Boris Becker won it a second time in 1986 at 18.

"I kept looking at the scoreboard to see if it was real," Hewitt said. "It's an unbelievable feeling. I always dreamed that some day I would be playing for this trophy."

Nalbandian's nerves showed on the match's very first point -- a double fault. He had every right to be a bit shaken: Before this fortnight, the 20-year-old Argentine had never played in a tour-level grass-court event, had never been past the third round in three majors, and owned exactly one career title.

New to Centre Court

His first shot on Centre Court came the morning of the final, when he practiced with coach Gabriel Markus for 30 minutes.

"I didn't care about the conditions, the stadium, the situation," the 28th-seeded Nalbandian said. "It was difficult because Lleyton is playing very good."

Despite dictating play and going for corners or lines repeatedly, Hewitt had more winners (30-12) and fewer unforced errors (25-41) than Nalbandian.

Ripping returns off both wings, Hewitt broke Nalbandian's serve eight times.

Nalbandian was a big beneficiary of a topsy-turvy tournament in which Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi and Marat Safin all lost in the second round. Nalbandian would have had to face Sampras in the third round, Safin in the quarterfinals, and Agassi in the semis.

Instead, he got to play George Bastl, Nicolas Lapentti and Xavier Malisse.

Before Sunday, there had been four straight first-time major winners, and eight men had won the last eight Grand Slam events.

In a wide-open era of men's tennis, Hewitt is as close to dominant as anyone right now.

In 1997, at 15 years and 11 months, he became the youngest qualifier for the Australian Open. He turned pro the next year and upset Agassi en route to a hard-court title in his hometown of Adelaide while ranked 550th -- the lowest for a tournament winner in ATP Tour history.

When Hewitt beat Sampras in September for his first major title, he was the U.S. Open's youngest champ since Sampras in 1990.

He finished 2001 as the youngest year-end No. 1.

Hewitt, however, hasn't always been adored by his sports-wild countrymen because of his brash style.

While playing James Blake at the U.S. Open, he made a comment interpreted by some as racist during a tirade.

He's been fined for using foul language on court and for calling a chair umpire at the 2001 French Open "spastic." He angered fans in Adelaide by calling them "stupid" for cheering for his opponent during a match in 2000.

A more mature Hewitt was on display at Wimbledon.

He did nothing to rile up the partisan crowd during a straight-set semifinal victory over Britain's Tim Henman and was never rattled during Sunday's match, which was suspended twice for a total of 49 minutes because of rain.

Just as the players came out of the locker room after the first delay, a male streaker hopped out of the stands, dropped his clothes and shoes on court, and pranced around for two minutes. He danced, somersaulted over the net and bowed to a laughing crowd while being chased by guards brandishing red sheets like matadors.

It might just have been the most excitement on court.

Not only was Nalbandian never in the match (he trailed 4-0 after just 16 minutes), but both players were content to stay anchored to the baseline for double-digit-stroke rallies.

Often, it had the feel of a clay-court encounter.

Or two buddies in a public park, hitting a ball for exercise.

Nalbandian provided the only real sparks -- and not with his play.

On break point at 2-2 in the third set, Hewitt hit a backhand return that Nalbandian thought was out. Replays appeared to show some line chalk flew. Nalbandian looked at the silent line judge, but continued the point, which ended on his backhand into the net.

Nalbandian flipped his racket halfway to the net -- a ball boy brought it to him -- and then grabbed a ball and placed it a couple of inches behind the baseline, as if to say, "Couldn't you tell that's where the ball landed?"

He questioned other calls, kicked a ball after one unforced error and smacked himself in the forehead following mistakes,

Hewitt, meanwhile, was completely composed. Until, that is, he had his first match point, serving at 5-2, 40-0.

He double faulted.

When the next point ended with Nalbandian sending a forehand long, Hewitt fell on his back, got up and swatted a ball out of the stadium. After putting his racket down, he climbed through the stands to the players' guest box, where he greeted his coach, parents and girlfriend, Kim Clijsters, with hugs and kisses.

It was the same kind of celebration used by the last Australian champion at the All England Club, Pat Cash in 1987.

"I can remember being at my grandparents' house when I was 6, not watching the whole Pat Cash match, because I was just starting to get into tennis then," Hewitt said. "He was one of my favorite players when I was growing up -- the way that he showed fire out there on the court."

Typically, grass suits players who serve-and-volley. Hewitt is just the third baseliner in the past 20 years to win Wimbledon. Jimmy Connors did it in 1982, Agassi in '92.

Through seven matches over two weeks, Hewitt tried to serve and volley just once. He faulted.

"For me, growing up, grass wasn't my favorite surface," said Hewitt, whose five career titles on the surface rank second only to Sampras' 10 among active players. "But there was something about Wimbledon that drew you to come here: the tradition."