Tennis-Hewitt wins record-tying fourth Queen's title

LONDON, June 18 (Reuters) Lleyton Hewitt ended a 17-month title drought when he beat James Blake 6-4 6-4 to win the Stella Artois Championships for a record-equalling fourth time today.

Hewitt outfoxed the big-hitting American, who had shocked triple defending champion Andy Roddick in the semi-finals, to join an illustrious club of men who have won a quartet of Queen's Club titles in the professional era.

Only John McEnroe and Boris Becker have won the pre-Wimbledon grasscourt event four times.

It was Hewitt's first title since he won at Sydney in January 2005 and avenged his defeat by Blake in the Las Vegas final in March.

Hewitt, who also won at Queen's Club in 2000, 2001 and 2002, broke serve in the first game and controlled the match from that moment on.

He sealed both the first and second sets with big first serves that careered off Blake's racket and celebrated with a trademark holler of ''C'mon!''.

''It's fantastic,'' he said before getting his hands on the sizeable men's singles trophy. ''I've always enjoyed coming here.

It's great winning it for a fourth time.

''The year I won Wimbledon (in 2002) I won here at Stella so it gives you a lot of confidence going into Wimbledon.'' Hewitt broke Blake's serve immediately to set the pattern for the first set.

Blake did manage to break back when trailing 5-2 but Hewitt earned a set point on his next service game with an angled forehand drive. A timely first serve brought him the set.

The American began to find his range at the start of the second set and held serve more easily until a shanked forehand long allowed Hewitt to break decisively at 3-3.

BLAKE LEARNING The Australian's ability to combine sliced returns and with accurate drives meant Blake could find no rhythm and Hewitt completed the formalities of a 66-minute victory with little fuss.

''He took advantage of my mistakes, that's why he's a four-time champion,'' said Blake. ''I'm still learning on grass but I think I've learned plenty this week.'' Hewitt, the former world number one, has slipped to 13th in the rankings due to illness, injury and patchy form.

He showed signs of a return to form at the French Open, where he took a set off eventual champion Rafael Nadal, and this week's victory leaves him in excellent shape for the Wimbledon grasscourt grand slam which starts on June 26.

REUTERS MP PM2117