By Phil Casey, PA Sport

It used to be a question of how Lleyton Hewitt could win a Grand Slam. Now it is a question of how many.

Hewitt's comprehensive victory over Argentina's David Nalbandian on Sunday gave the Australian his second Grand Slam title at the tender age of 21.

Yet just days before his US Open triumph last year, significant doubts remained about his ability to claim the biggest prizes in tennis.

Even his own father Glynn questioned whether he was physically capable of sustaining his own brand of high-intensity tennis for seven matches during the two weeks of a Grand Slam.

Without any big weapons to win cheap points, it was felt Hewitt had to work too hard to win points and matches to be able to reproduce his best form throughout the Australian, French and US Opens, and Wimbledon.

But with that myth now well and truly shattered, it looks as though the aggressive young Aussie will be a major force at the highest level of the game for years to come.

"I think it's what the sport needs," said former British number one John Lloyd.

"Superstars are created when you win a lot of titles and I think we have the chance here with Lleyton Hewitt where he can win four, five, maybe even more Grand Slams with the way he is playing right now."

Three-time Wimbledon champion Boris Becker added: "I think this is one of many Wimbledon championships for Lleyton and maybe some more US Opens and hopefully for him Australian Opens.

"The game needs a dominant figure, the game needs a player with the attitude Lleyton brings to the court. He is a good example to the all the young players out there who think you have to be 6ft 4in and have a booming serve to win."

Hewitt himself is more cautious and cites the likes of Marat Safin - whom he deposed as US Open champion - Andre Agassi, Gustavo Kuerten, Andy Roddick and Roger Federer as his main contenders for future Grand Slam titles.

"There's a handful of guys, Marat can play on all surfaces," said Hewitt. "He didn't have his best tournament at Wimbledon but he's good on all surfaces and he's going to be a big threat over the years.

"Andre's fit enough to do well for the next few years and he showed that he can win big matches on all surfaces as well. Then you've got the younger guys coming up, Kuerten still has a chance when he gets back to 100 per cent obviously.

"Federer struggled the last couple of weeks but if he played like he did when he won Hamburg then he's going to be a threat. And Tommy Haas is another one who didn't get the chance to play at Wimbledon but has a real chance."

Whether Hewitt can ever dominate Wimbledon to the extent of seven-time champion Pete Sampras remains to be seen, but compatriot and Wimbledon doubles champion Todd Woodbridge believes two significant factors have swung in his favour with the slower balls and court.

"Ever since I've known Lleyton, he's gone better than I ever thought he could do," said Woodbridge after winning his seventh doubles title at the All England Club.

"Coming into this, I didn't expect him to really win Wimbledon.

"It's just a matter of keeping fit, the drive and motivation he has. He's just a freak really in a way. I mean, people like Lleyton come along every 15, 20 years, one person like that.

"In the beginning, looking at Lleyton, I didn't expect that from him when he first come on our Davis Cup team as a 16-year-old. He just keeps taking the next step, taking the next step.

"And I think Wimbledon had a final here between two guys who really didn't want to get anywhere near that net, and they wanted that in some ways. They've wanted a more all-court game being played here.

"The way tennis is played now, guys are better off the forehand and backhand than they were before. One guy had one good side and didn't have a great backhand, let's say had a great forehand.

"If you don't have a good enough second serve now, you serve-volley, you watch it fly by you. That's just the state of how players have improved. In a way I think that what we saw this year is going to be around for a number of years to come."