INDIAN WELLS (California) March 17: Top-ranked Lleyton Hewitt destroyed Brazil’s Gustavo Kuerten 6-1 6-1 to retain his Indian Wells title in just an hour on Sunday.

Hewitt completely outplayed Kuerten, making just 10 unforced errors to the Brazilian’s 30, while hitting 19 winners.

Kuerten, the former world number one, had beaten Germany’s Rainer Schuettler 6-2 3-6 6-2 earlier in the day in the completion of their rain-delayed semi-final.

Hewitt broke the three-time French Open champion five times in the match and was never bothered by Kuerten’s ground-stroke game.

The 21-year-old Australian also dominated the crosscourt backhand rallies and ran down every drop shot.

Hewitt became the first back-to-back winner at Indian Wells since Michael Chang successfully defended his title in 1997.

Hewitt has now won 12 consecutive matches, which includes a singles match in Australia’s Davis Cup tie against Britain, and has a 15-1 record in 2003. His only loss was to Morocco’s Younes El Aynaoui in the fourth round of the Australian Open.

He also won the Scottsdale event last week in Arizona.

Top seed Kim Clijsters used her speed and a powerful attack to down fourth seed Lindsay Davenport 6-4 7-5.

In winning her second title of the year, the third-ranked Clijsters stood strong in a seesaw contest during which Davenport took huge cuts at the Belgian’s second serves and Clijsters ran down nearly every ball.

The top seed came back from 3-1 down in the first set, breaking the American for 3-3 when Davenport committed one of her 10 double faults on the day.

In an extraordinary game with Davenport serving at 4-5, the 19-year-old Belgian needed four set points to win the set, finally taking it when she laced a backhand crosscourt winner.

Davenport again jumped out to a 3-1 lead in the second set, but Clijsters continued to more than hold her own in vicious forehand rallies and broke back for 3-3 when Davenport again double-faulted.

Clijsters had her first match point with Davenport serving at 5-4, but the American responded with a 103-mph service winner.

Davenport had three break points at 5-5, but Clijsters saved all three. The American fought off another match point at 5-6 with an inside out forehand winner, but on Clijsters’ third match point, Davenport buried an overhead into the net.

Clijsters ended the contest with 25 winners to 20 from Davenport, who also committed 37 unforced errors.

Clijsters has now won 12 titles and has reached four finals this year, winning two of them. Her first title of 2003 came at the Sydney International in January.

Results (x denotes seed):

WOMEN: