BERLIN (Reuters) - Roger Federer suffered a shock defeat by Lleyton Hewitt in the final of the Halle grasscourt event Sunday, losing 3-6 7-6 6-4 to the Australian.
Hewitt, a former Wimbledon champion himself, ended the two hour 20 minute contest when his forehand hit the net tape and dropped dead on Federer's side.
"He played fantastic and deserved to win," Federer told the tournament's website (www.garyweber-open.com)
"I'm happy with the way I'm playing," he said. It's unfortunate not coming through today, but I think my level of play is fine. This loss here doesn't worry me in any way."
"Roger's a hell of an opponent, his grass-court record speaks for itself," Hewitt told reporters. "Any time you play Roger on a grass court you know you're in for a hell of a battle and I was lucky to get out of today's match.
Going into Sunday's final, Federer had won 76 of his last 77 matches on grass dating back to 2002. His only blemish was a five-set loss to Rafael Nadal in the 2008 Wimbledon final.
However, Hewitt is not one to surrender easily and he refused to be intimidated by his abysmal record against the 16-times grand slam champion.
(Reporting by Martyn Herman in London; editing by Ed Osmond and Alison Wildey)
