By Mark Staniforth, PA Sport

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Lleyton Hewitt swept past David Nalbandian to win his first Wimbledon title and revealed he had been inspired to victory by two of the most popular champions of all time.

Hewitt was only six years old when Pat Cash became the last Australian to win the title back in 1987 and grew up in Boris Becker's era at the All England Club.

Cash and Becker were both in the men's locker room as Hewitt prepared for a final which would provide his second Grand Slam title and confirm his status as the undisputed number one in the world.

Hewitt, who was beaten by Becker on his Wimbledon debut three years ago, said: "Three years ago I lost here in the third round and just to be here in the locker room with guys like Becker and Cash is incredible.

"I sort of had to pinch myself just to see if it was real out there. As a kid you dream of playing a Wimbledon final. I don't really understand the whole grip of it yet. I fell on my back and I really did not know what to do.

"For some reason I was really looking forward to Wimbledon this year and I said that four or five months ago. There was something about this whole grass court season."

Hewitt won his first Grand Slam title at last year's US Open when he blew away Pete Sampras in a match which clearly signalled a changing of the tennis guard.

He found it equally easy today against an opponent who incredibly was taking part in his first ever senior grass-court tournament.

But he said he could not distinguish between the different feelings of winning either of those Slams or his greatest moments in the Davis Cup.

Hewitt added: "I don't want to go out there and rate them in order. Every one of them is unique. The US Open and getting to number one and Wimbledon have all got things that make them special.

"Everyone in Australia knows that Wimbledon is one of the biggest tournaments. Growing up on grass it wasn't my favourite surface but there was something about coming to Wimbledon with all its traditions and all the great Australians who have won here."

Hewitt blasted off the blocks in a nerveless start to the match and broke Nalbandian in each of his first two service games.

"It was a big moment for both of us but I'd been in a Grand Slam final so I understood a little bit how the pressure and nerves were going to be.

"I thought he'd be a bit nervous at the start and that that was an opportunity for me to get the initiative right at the start and put a foot forward. I was able to do that.

"In the second set he played a lot better and made me work a lot harder for my points."

Indeed Hewitt's only sign of pressure came when he served for the Championship at 5-2 in the third set and immediately produced a double fault.

"I was sitting there at the change of ends trying to think if this is actually real. When I got 40-0 up I had another 'squiz' at the scoreboard just to make sure I didn't celebrate too early."

Nalbandian admitted he had not played his best tennis but was still dazed about the fact that he reached the final at all.

He said: "I made a large amount of mistakes today but being in the final was still great. In your first time here you never think you're going to be in the final.

"I didn't have anything to lose today - I didn't have anything to lose in the first round.

"I was a bit nervous today but Lleyton played great - he didn't miss any shots. For me it was not easy playing in the final in my first time here but he is a good winner and he is the world number one."