Britain's Andy Murray rose to new heights as he came from behind to beat Lleyton Hewitt and claim his first ATP Tour title in the SAP Open in San Jose.
The 18-year-old Scot, who also beat Andy Roddick in the last four, rallied from a set down to win 2-6 6-1 7-6.
Murray had his serve broken three times in the opening set, but hit back superbly to race through the next.
Hewitt saved two match points with aces at 4-5 and 5-6 down to force a tie-break, but Murray took it 7-3.
Hewitt had won all eight of his previous finals against opponents outside the world's top 50.
But the former world number one was never comfortable against the young Scot, despite a strong start.
Murray dropped his opening service game of the match to fall 2-0 down before breaking back and levelling at 2-2.
"To beat Lleyton 7-6 in the third set is a dream come true"
But Hewitt saved a further break point in his next service game and stepped up a gear to break Murray twice more and take the set.
Murray complained to the umpire about a line call at 2-5, 0-15 down, but, undaunted by the setback of losing that game, he began the second set with renewed purpose.
The teenager broke Hewitt in the first and third games and upped his own serving percentages to take a commanding 4-0 lead.
The Australian refused to lie down but Murray broke him again to take the set 6-1.
Murray revels in 'dream' win
Murray opened with a strong service game in the decider and then converted a break point in the next game with a backhand winner.
Hewitt responded by breaking back immediately, but Murray forced three more break points in the next, only to suffer a poor line call which allowed the Australian to level at 2-2.
Undeterred, a cross-court lob and a backhand cross-court winner saw the young Scot break Hewitt again for a 4-2 lead.
But again the Australian responded in kind, drawing level again at 4-4 with his best service game of the set.
An impeccable top-spin lob gave Murray a match point at 5-4, but Hewitt saved it with an ace, and did exactly the same when the Scot forced another at 6-5 ahead.
Murray raced to a 3-0 lead in the tie-break, and despite Hewitt closing to 5-3, two big serves brought Murray his moment of triumph.
His efforts this week mean he is assured of a place in the world's top 50 when the new rankings come out on Monday.