Hewitt beats Ferrero for Rotterdam title

ROTTERDAM, Netherlands -- Sixth-seeded Lleyton Hewitt beat second-seeded Juan Carlos Ferrero 6-7 (1-7), 7-5, 6-4 Sunday in the ABN Amro tournament to win his 21st career title.

Hewitt overcame early problems with his serve to improve his record against the French Open champion to 5-3. The Australian dropped his first set of the tournament but rallied to win his second title this year.

Ferrero, the world No. 2 from Spain, might have been strained from his long route to the final, which included three-set matches Friday and Saturday.

Hewitt made just 50 percent of his first serves in the first set to Ferrero's 82 percent.

In the second set, Hewitt survived two break points in a seventh game that went to deuce seven times. At one point, Ferrero folded his arms and told the chair umpire, "I don't want to play like this," after one of his serves was called out.

He began losing more rallies in the third set before Hewitt finally broke him for the win.

Also Sunday, Hewitt's fiancee, Kim Clijsters, won the Diamond Games in Antwerp, Belgium.

AP NEWS
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