Hewitt stuns Federer to take Halle title

Lleyton Hewitt stunned long-time nemesis Roger Federer to lift the ATP grass-court Halle title on his first appearance yesterday.

The eighth seeded Australian rallied from a set down to beat the five-time Halle champion and top seed Federer 3-6 7-6 (7/4) 6-4.

Hewitt, the 2002 Wimbledon champion, ended a 15-match winless streak to the world number two stretching back to a Davis Cup match in September 2003 and moved closer to 100 grass-court match wins as he improved to a 98-23 lifetime mark on the surface.

"I had a bit more luck today," said the 29-year-old Australian, who sealed the match when the ball clipped the net on its way in and out of Federer's reach.

"I'm getting towards the end of my career and had a couple of surgeries, to know I can still compete at this level it's fantastic for me," added Hewitt, who lifted his first title since Houston last year.

Queen's final: Querrey bt Fish 7-6 7-5.

WTA Birmingham final: Li Na bt Sharapova 7-5 6-1.