Eighth seeded Lleyton Hewitt secured a shock win over Roger Federer in the final of the Halle Open in Germany on Sunday, winning 3-6 7-6 6-4.
The 29-year-old Australian surprised everyone in his first final of 2010, defeating the six-time Wimbledon champion, who had not lost a match at Halle since 2002.
Going into the final, Federer had won 76 of his last 77 matches on grass and Hewitt had not defeated him since 2003.
After coasting through the previous four rounds without dropping a single set, Federer met the Australian who is known to not surrender easily.
After dropping the first set to Federer, 3-6, Hewitt chased down everything the top seed could throw at him breaking early in the second set, indicating he was going to fight the Swiss for it.
Federer broke back immediately and the game followed serve. Hewitt won the tiebreaker and ended the two hour 20 minute contest with a lucky forehand that clipped the net and dropped dead on Federer's side.
It was Hewitt's first time playing in Germany's only grass court tournament, with the win providing a huge confidence boost ahead of Wimbledon in a weeks' time.
"It's fantastic for me. I'm getting towards the end of my career and had a couple of surgeries, to know I can still compete at this level. I'm thrilled to be here and to have won another title" Hewitt said.
Lleyton Hewitt is loved for his 'never say die' attitude. He is a player who has tasted not only the sweetness of fame and fortune but has also drunk deeply from that bitter cup of defeat.
A Well-Being Australia theologian offers this point to ponder, that in many ways he is like Job, knowing what it is like to bask in the glow of good fortune and also the struggle that life becomes when that light is snuffed out.
But the bible tells us that the story of Job holds important truths for the Christian's relationship with God. Trials and suffering build a relationship between us and God, helping to strengthen and grow us into the men and women God wants us to be.
"As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy." James 5:11