Hewitt, Sans Agassi, Pounds Unheralded Muller for ATP Washington Title

Former No. 1-ranked Lleyton Hewitt made the most of Andre Agassi's semifinal exit at the ATP stop in Washington, on Sunday rolling past unseeded Gilles Muller of Luxembourg 6-3, 6-4 for his third title of the year.

The 23-year-old Adelaide native became the first Aussie to win in Washington since Tony Roche in 1972. It was Hewitt's first title since February, and moves him from 8 to No. 5 on the ATP Entry Rankings.

"It was nice to get another win, but my last final was only two weeks ago," said Hewitt, who lost to Agassi in the Masters Series-Cincinnati final. "I'm happy with how my game is progressing over these last few weeks on hardcourts. It's going well, I'm looking forward to the next week (in Long Island) and then the Open."

Muller was appearing in his career-first ATP final.

"I was too tight today. He was running everywhere," Muller said. "Sometimes, it was hopeless, I would have three or four shots in a row and every time the ball came back. You start to doubt a bit. I'm very happy, I played the best tournament of my career and beat Andre Agassi. I have some regrets from today, I could have played better, but I can't have everything. I did get to my first ATP final and beat Andre Agassi."

And by the way, added Muller, did I mention I beat Andre Agassi?

In the doubles final, Haggard/Koenig d. Parrott/Tursunov 7-6(3), 6-1 for their first title of the year as a team.