Tim Henman conceded he was beaten by a player "setting the benchmark" for men's tennis as Lleyton Hewitt won his second tournament of the year at the Pacific Life Open on Sunday.

The chicken pox which affected the US Open champion before, during and for several weeks after the Australian Open has had little effect on his form over the past three weeks.

Hewitt won the final 6-1 6-2 to collect his 14th title since turning professional in 1998, as Henman's bid to win the biggest title of his career ended in bitter disappointment.

The Australian defeated Andre Agassi in the Siebel Open at San Jose a fortnight ago and now has two titles from his three tournaments this year.

Henman said: "First of all I'd like to congratulate Lleyton. He's played phenomenal tennis this week as everyone's been able to see. He's setting the benchmark; he is the number one in the world right now."

On Sky Sports, he turned to the crowd and added: "I'd also like to thank and apologise to you guys.

"Thanks to you for coming out and supporting the final today. I'm sorry I couldn't make it a little longer, but my opponent had something to do with that."

It was often imperious stuff from the young Aussie on the blue hard court, with Henman unable to hold serve until the second game of the second set.

As a small consolation the British number one was able to leave with a cheque worth £144,000. Hewitt's victory netted him £274,000.

Henman was a surprise finalist, having had to beat Marat Safin and Todd Martin to get there.

In the first set he looked a man in the wrong place.

Three times a Wimbledon semi-finalist, Henman has never gone beyond that stage at a grand slam and he has not won a Masters Series title. The nearest he came was when reaching the 2000 Cincinnati final in which he lost to Swede Thomas Enqvist.

He lost the first set 6-1 at the Indian Wells venue today, leaving himself needing to make an early impression in the second set to halt the Australian's momentum.

Hewitt broke in the first game of the match, on his second opportunity.

Although Henman repeated the trick, the Australian won the next two games to move 3-1 ahead.

After his early serving jitters, 21-year-old Hewitt took a grip on the match and looked back to peak fitness.

Andre Agassi beat Pete Sampras in three straight sets in last year's final, but this year's title match was best-of-three because of television demands.

Henman was unable to cope with his opponent's power and consistent depth, while his volleying was untypically poor.

Hewitt moved to 40-15 on Henman's serve at 5-1 and clinched the set when the British number one floated a backhand long.

Henman had break point in the first game of the second set, but Hewitt produced a big second serve which gave him deuce and then held thanks to two wild forehands from his desperate opponent.

The next game was a struggle, but Henman held for the first time in the match to establish a footing in the set.

Having been 1-1 in the first set, it was important he built on the hold this time.

From 40-love down in the next game, the Brit forced deuce and a Hewitt forehand bounced millimetres over the baseline to bring advantage and break point.

But Henman failed to take that and lost the game which was looking to be the key to his fortunes in the remainder of the tussle.

Adelaide-born Hewitt, six years Henman's junior, took the next game to 15 and led by 3-1.

That could have killed the contest. But Henman was not to be beaten so soon and broke back - only to lose a tight next game to fall 4-2 down.

Watched by girlfriend Kim Clijsters, the women's world number three, Hewitt held to move one game away from the title.

A brilliant forehand down the line, with Henman at the net, secured a title-winning break.

Hewitt's win strengthens his position at the head in the entry system rankings, which recognise performance on a rolling basis, and sees him climb to fifth in the Champions Race.

Henman, after a bright start to his season, is up to second in latest Race standings.