Hewitt battles to title

It was Hewitt's first tournament for six weeks

Lleyton Hewitt saved two match points before edging to victory over Andre Agassi in the Siebel Open.

The world number one finally prevailed 4-6 7-6 (8/6) 7-6 (7/4) in a dramatic match in San Jose.

Agassi, playing his first official tournament of the year, laid down the gauntlet in the first set, serving with unerring accuracy and not allowing his Australian opponent a break point.

In contrast, Hewitt's service - especially his second delivery - was far less impressive than it had been earlier in the tournament.

This is definitely up there with some of the other big wins in my career

Lleyton Hewitt

After missing two break points in the third game of the match, Agassi then squandered eight more in Hewitt's next service game.

But finally the 21-year-old Hewitt put a forehand volley long to cede the advantage to his 31-year-old opponent.

Agassi held three set points at 5-3 but Hewitt whipped three winners from the back of the court.

However, Agassi closed out the set in the next game when he crunched a forehand cross-court that Hewitt could only scramble into the net.

Hewitt held his first break point of the match with Agassi serving at 2-3 in the second set but the American held on.

Hewitt had another break point with Agassi serving at 3-4, but he again missed his chance.

Agassi held a break point of his own at 4-4, only to see his rival respond with an ace.

The set went to a tiebreak, in which Agassi held a match point at 6-5 which Hewitt saved with a precision forehand.

It's hard to be happy right now but I got a lot out of this

Andre Agassi

Hewitt hit an ace and took the set on the next point with a backhand down the line after a long rally.

Breaks of serve were traded early in third set before Agassi squandered four break points at 4-3.

Agassi, who is now coached by Hewitt's former coach Darren Cahill, had as second match point at 5-4 but the Australian responded with an ace.

After a tentative start, the subsequent tiebreak cam alive on the eighth point when Agassi battled bravely to stay in the point before Hewitt nailed a volley.

Agassi seemed to lose his focus and immediately committed two unforced errors to hand his opponent the match.

Hewitt, playing in his first tournament for six weeks because of a bout of chicken pox, let out a yell of delight and pumped his fist as Agassi's final forehand drifted long.