Hewitt Ends Title Drought with 4th Queens TitlePosted on June 19, 2006 Spared a potential loss in the quarterfinals when world No. 2 Rafael Nadal injured his shoulder after winning the first set, then again in the semis when Tim Henman had a meltdown in the third set after a bad call up a break on the Aussie, Lleyton Hewitt capitalized on his fortunes Sunday in the final at the Queen's Club, defeating James Blake 6-4, 6-4 for the title.
"I felt like I played pretty flawless tennis for most of it," Hewitt said. "I served really well and put pressure on his serve as much as possible. The way I've played the last few matches I think ball-striking wise, it's the same as when I won here the three times before." The title ended an almost 1-1/2 year drought for the Aussie, who last won in January of 2005, and grouped him with John McEnroe and Boris Becker as players to capture four Stella Artois titles. "I've got better as the week's gone on," Hewitt said. "In the past as well when I've had to play Sampras and Henman and these guys in the semis and finals here, I've got better as the week's gone on." In the doubles final No. 4 seeds Paul Hanley and Kevin Ullyett edged No. 2 seeds Jonas Bjorkman and Max "The Beast" Mirnyi in a match tiebreak for their fourth title of the year. |
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