With a field filled with Spaniards and high-profile Americans, Sunday's final at the Franklin Templeton Classic came down to a Brit and an Aussie. Both players came into the finals with impressive results. Henman reached the finals without losing a set all week, while Hewitt sported a Tour leading 19-1 match record this year. The Scottsdale finally was the first meeting between the two players.

Both players entered the court to enthusiastic applause. Hewitt appeared to get the bigger ovation during the player introductions. This was not surprising since Scottsdale fans remembered Hewitt's surprising run to last year's Franklin Templeton final losing to Jan-Michael Gambill in three sets. The local paper also reported that the Aussie used Sylvester Stallone's "Rocky" movies as inspiration. The crowd had read their Sunday paper as a fan yelled out "Go Rocky" and one young fan held a sign saying "Go Rock!"

Hewitt won the coin toss and elected to receive. This was a dominant trend this week, but a little surprising today since Henman has been particularly strong on his serve for the tournament. Henman easily held his opening service game with a 127 mph ace. Hewitt started his service game slowly, going down 15-40. Having played his last two matches at night, one wondered if the Aussie was having a little trouble adjusting to the very warm and sunny conditions today. Hewitt's forehand helped him to hold serve for 1-1. In the next game, Henman rushed his shots and surrendered his serve. Not capitalizing on Henman's sloppy play in this game, Hewitt had a disastrous service game of his own. Hewitt double faulted for 0-40 and Henman earned the break with a forehand winner. The first set was on serve 2-2. The players held their serves for the next two games. Once again, an untimely double fault set up another service break. This time it was Henman serving in the seventh game. Henman erased one break point with a forehand volley that Hewitt could not get to, but the Brit placed a forehand in the net on the next point. Hewitt took the lead in the set at 4-3. Henman's serve, which had been so effective in previous matches, was shaky again in the ninth game. Hewitt went up 0-40, but a service winner and two aces (131mph and 128 mph) gave Henman the hold. Hewitt lost four break chance (and set point) opportunities during this game. The young Australian held his next serve to take the first set at 6-4 in 40 minutes.

Having lost his first set of the tournament, it would be interesting to see how Henman would respond in the second set. Now the "underdog" in the match, the crowd quickly switched their support to Henman. Henman responded positively with an opening service hold and a subsequent break of Hewitt's serve. In the fifth game of the second set, Henman served a 99 mph ace to hold for a 4-1, one break, lead. The match appeared to be headed for a third set when Hewitt double faulted for 0-30 on his next game. The feisty Aussie eventually held on a 111 mph ace for 4-2. Henman's next service game was the most impressive of the match, with three aces and a forehand volley winner. Hewitt held for 5-3 and Henman prepared to serve for the second set. However, Henman's nerves set in and Hewitt could only be described as unshakable. On the first point of the game, Henman chipped and charged with Hewitt passing him with a backhand. Henman then through in a very bad drop shot that Hewitt easily smacked for a forehand winner. Henman got back in the game with an effective serve-and-volley point and followed with another backhand volley winner. Hewitt earned a break point for 30-40 with a backhand service return. Then there was a dose of bad luck for the Brit, Hewitt hit a netcord that awkwardly bounced over the net, Henman scooped the shot but it sailed wide. The set was back on serve at 5-4 Henman.

Hewitt's service in the tenth game was a lengthy affair. Four deuces were contested and Henman had two break, and set, points. Hewitt always had a good reply and held for 5-5. Henman's next service game was no easier. Three unforced errors, including one missed overhead, gave Hewitt a 0-40 lead on Henman's serve. As he had so often done during the week, Henman stepped up his game when it needed it most. Henman hit two wonderful backhand volleys on his way to getting the game to deuce. The crowd, in anticipation of a tiebreaker, riotously applauded Henman's comeback. A tournament tying ace of 133 mph helped Henman hold for 6-5. Giving the crowd what they wanted, Hewitt held for 6-6 and the second set tiebreak.

Here is how the tiebreak unfolded:

TH: Henman hits a forehand wide on the 5^th shot of the rally. Hewitt 1-0.

LH: Henman nets a backhand on the 8^th stroke. Hewitt 2-0.

LH: Henman comes to net on a service return, Hewitt hits a backhand pass. Hewitt 3-0.

TH: Hewitt has a netcord, Henman responds with a backhand volley winner. Hewitt 3-1.

TH: 114 mph ace. Hewitt 3-2.

LH: Henman's backhand service return goes long. Hewitt 4-2.

LH: Henman nets a forehand service return. Hewitt 5-2.

TH: A Henman backhand volley goes wide on the 5^th shot. Hewitt 6-2.

TH: On the 7^th stroke, a Henman forehand lands outside the baseline. Hewitt 7-2.

Hewitt wins his Tour leading third title of the year, 6-4, 7-6 (7-2) in a lengthy 1 hour and 45 minutes. Meanwhile, Henman notched his sixth consecutive final round loss dating back to January 1999. Hewitt also enters into some elite company as one of only a handful of players who have captured five titles while still a teenager. Hewitt's 2000 match record now stands at an unbelievable 20-1. Statistically the match was really too close to call. Hewitt won 78 points to Henman's 72 points and both had a positive winners-to-unforced errors ratio (Hewitt: 24 winners, 20 errors; Henman 35 winners, 34 errors). Henman's first serve percentage, as in the semifinal, was the only "red flag" at a slim 41%.

In the post match interview, Henman stated that he did not play as well today as he had earlier in the week. He went on to say that he would take a lot of positives away from this week's performance despite the ultimate result. Henman credited Hewitt for his effective second serve and consistent and solid play, which Henman felt did not allow him to play his best tennis today.

Hewitt was fairly subdued in his meeting with the press, rarely smiling but apparently taking all of his recent successes in stride. The Aussie said he did not come into the tournament with a lot of expectations having spent his off-time doing fitness training in Queensland. He stated that he feels in great shape and has a close relationship with the ATP trainers to avoid any potential physical breakdowns. As the week went on, Hewitt stated that he felt his chances of "hoisting the trophy" increased with each match. When asked for his "Australian tennis role model," Hewitt surprisingly did not initially offer a Laver or Newcombe or Roche, but without hesitation offered up Patrick Rafter. Though he later did mention his Davis Cup captains for giving him the opportunity to play for his country, it was apparent that Rafter has had a great influence on Hewitt. Hewitt cited Rafter's back-to-back US Open titles as a particular inspiration to him. He considers Rafter an "older brother" and uses him as a guide of how to handle himself on and off the court. Hewitt takes his stellar record into Indian Wells next week where he faces Carlos Moya in a first round match tentatively scheduled for Tuesday.