Hewitt back in Top 10 after Stella triumph

SINGAPORE, June 19 (Reuters) Australian Lleyton Hewitt vaulted back into the world's top 10 today after triumphing at London's Stella Artois Wimbledon warm-up event.

Yesterday's 6-4 6-4 victory over American James Blake on London's Queen's Club grass courts ended a 17-month title drought for Hewitt -- a former world number one -- and lifted him from 13th to number nine in the new ATP singles rankings.

Former Wimbledon and U.S. Open champion Hewitt had slipped down the rankings due to illness, injury and patchy form.

Last week's stellar performance led to him winning a record-equalling fourth Stella title and leaves him in excellent shape for the Wimbledon grasscourt grand slam, which starts on June 26.

Hewitt's elevation, along with Chilean Fernando Gonzalez who rose one place from 11th, meant Argentine Gaston Gaudio and Croatia's Mario Ancic slipped out of the top 10.

The top of the rankings remained unchanged.

Switzerland's Roger Federer -- who equalled Bjorn Borg's record of 41 consecutive victories on grass by winning the title in Halle -- stays world number one with ranking 7,260 points.

Spain's world number two Rafael Nadal has 4,545 with Argentine third-placed David Nalbandian more than 1,000 points behind.

American Andy Roddick, Wimbledon runner-up the last two years, remained fifth.

REUTERS PDS RAI0758