SYDNEY, Jan 15: Lleyton Hewitt boosted his confidence ahead of next week's Australian Open by brushing aside Czech qualifier Ivo Minar 7-5 6-0 in the final of the Sydney International on Saturday.

The world number three reeled off the first five games of the match and also the last eight to successfully defend his title. Top seed Hewitt's win helped provide Australia with a rare double as Alicia Molik captured the women's trophy with a 6-7 6-4 7-5 victory over compatriot Samantha Stosur in a gripping final that lasted nearly two and a half hours.

Minar mounted a brief comeback when he won five games on the trot to level the opening set at 5-5 but Hewitt immediately raised his game. The 23-year-old Australian's triumph was his fourth in Sydney.

The last man to win the event, formally known as the New South Wales Open, as many times was John Bromwich, who won seven between 1937 and 1949. Hewitt went into the final as a short-priced favourite to clinch his 24th career title after dropping only one set all week while Minar, ranked 158th in the world, surprised everyone by reaching his first ATP final.

The 20-year-old Czech had come to Sydney hoping to get match practice before the qualifying draw for the Australian Open. But his unexpected progress forced him to pull out of the qualifying draw for Melbourne and the chance to play in his first grand slam. He said his only option now was to fly to Germany and compete in a challenger event.

FINAL RESULTS