BBC SPORT | Special Events | 2001 | US Open tennis


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Monday, 10 September, 2001, 00:02 GMT 01:02 UK

Hewitt on cloud nine

Hewitt (l) was too good for America's darling

Australian Lleyton Hewitt cruised to his first Grand Slam win on Sunday, blistering past Pete Sampras in straight sets.

The American winner of 13 Grand Slam titles could find no answer to the superb baseline game of Hewitt, losing 7-6 6-1 6-1.

Sampras, 30, tried to sign off his season with an emotional win in front of his supportive home crowd.

I got a bit lucky out there and I was seeing the ball very well

Lleyton Hewitt

But 20-year-old Hewitt had little time for sentiment and grabbed the winner's trophy in his first Grand slam final, with relative ease.

"It's unbelievable," said Hewitt after receiving the winner's prize of £600,000 ($850,000).

"I've dreamt of this moment, being out here and playing in a Grand Slam final.

"I got a bit lucky out there and I was seeing the ball very well."

You're going to see this Lleyton Hewitt guy for the next 10 years like you saw me

Pete Sampras

Sampras, who had to beat Andre Agassi and last year's champion Marat Safin en route to the final, hinted that a new generation of players had taken over the men's game.

"It was a tough draw for me this past two weeks and I worked really hard to get here," he added.

"I'm disappointed I didn't play better but Lleyton's returns and passing shots were the best I've ever seen and I've played against the best. He has got the quickest first step in the game.

"I lost to a great champion. You're going to see this Lleyton Hewitt guy for the next 10 years like you saw me.

"It was a good run... unfortunately I ran into a young guy who was a little too good today."

WATCH/LISTEN

ON THIS STORY
	BBC tennis correspondent Iain Carter "Hewitt produced a display of near faultless tennis"

	US Open winner Lleyton Hewitt "I knew I was capable of doing it"

	Beaten finalist Pete Sampras "He was just too good"