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 WIMBLEDON NEWS
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Hewitt clinches his first Wimbledon title.

ALL TOO EASY FOR LLEYTON

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Australia's Lleyton Hewitt claimed his first Wimbledon title with a comprehensive victory over unheralded Argentinian David Nalbandian.

The top seed and world number one was simply too good for a nervous Nalbandian, the 28th seed and first player to reach the final on his senior debut in the championships.

In the most one-sided final since John McEnroe beat Jimmy Connors in 1984 for the loss of just four games, Hewitt added the Wimbledon title to his US Open crown with a 6-1 6-3 6-2 win in just under two hours.

The writing was on the wall as soon as Nalbandian opened the match with a double fault, Hewitt racing through the first four games in just 15 minutes as Nalbandian made a string of unforced errors in his first match on Centre Court.

Nalbandian had been disqualified from his semi-final of junior Wimbledon in 1999 for turning up late, and at times it was as if he had not turned up at all as Hewitt took complete control.

The 20-year-old from Cordoba eventually won his first game of the match after saving two break points, his first two outright winners of the contest reducing his deficit to 4-1.

He then forced two break points on Hewitt's serve and at last seemed to be getting into the match, but the Australian held on and Nalbandian's woes were complete when he served a double fault to give Hewitt the set 6-1.

Hewitt then saved two break points in the opening game of the second set before the first rain interruption forced the players off court, no doubt much to Nalbandian's relief.

The rain delay proved thankfully brief but appeared insufficient for Nalbandian to pull himself together and he immediately lost his serve on the resumption to fall 2-0 behind.

But if Hewitt thought he was in for an easy ride like the first set, he was mistaken as the Argentinian broke back straight away to get back into the match.

The players were then tied at 3-3 AND 30-30 on Hewitt's serve when another shower forced them off court for a second time.

Hewitt wasted no time on the resumption in taking the next two points to hold his serve, and promptly broke Nalbandian's serve for a 5-3 lead.

The 21-year-old went 0-30 down on his serve to give Nalbandian hope of staying in the set, but Hewitt was not to be denied and held his nerve to take a two sets to nil lead.

Hewitt again took the early initiative in the third set but Nalbandian was showing much more fight than the first set and broke straight back to level at two sets all.

He needed to string several games together however and was unable to do that as Hewitt made it three service breaks in a row courtesy of a lapse in focus from his opponent.

Nalbandian thought a Hewitt forehand on break point was long and appealed to the line judge while still playing the point, which Hewitt won to take a 3-2 lead.

That seemed to shatter Nalbandian's resolve and Hewitt took the next three games to seal a comprehensive win.

Afterwards Hewitt taggedhis win "a ripper", saying: "I kept looking at the scoreboard to see if it was real - to see if I really had match point," Hewitt said.

"It is an unbelievable feeling. Growing up as a kid 15 years ago I saw Pat Cash winning the trophy and I can't believe I've won it now."

Hewitt paid tribute to his vanquished opponent Nalbandian, who incredibly reached the final in his first ever grass-court tournament.

Hewitt, who completed his victory lap draped in an Australian flag, said: "David played incredible to make the final in his first ever grass-court tournament - that's even better than John McEnroe."

And the world number one admitted even he himself had been surprised by how well he played since the grass-court season started with his third consecutive win at Queen's two weeks before Wimbledon.

"I don't know what happened. I lost in the round of 16 at the French Open and came on grass in London and hit red-hot form straight away.

"It was a tough draw and I came through and beat Tim and then came out here and won so well in the final.

"I lost in the last 16 here last year and from then on I just got better and better. To get to the world number one in Sydney last year at the age of 20 I didn't think it could get any better.

"I think I should retire now and go and play Aussie Rules football!"

Nalbandian meanwhile said: "I will be back next year and I will try my best to win it.

"It has been an amazing two weeks for me. I had never expected to get this far.

"I did not play well enough to win it this time but next year maybe."