Russian fourth seed Marat Safin outlasted local hope Lleyton Hewitt 1-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 to win the centenary Australian Open in Melbourne on Sunday. (Xinhua)    

  CANBERRA, Jan. 30 (Xinhuanet) -- Russian fourth seed Marat Safin outlasted local hope Lleyton Hewitt 1-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 to win the centenary Australian Open in Melbourne on Sunday.

    It was Safin's first Australian title after playing in two losing finals here over the last three years and ended third-seed Hewitt's dream of becoming the first home winner of the Australian Open in almost three decades.

    The Russian clinched the 1-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 win in two hours and 45 minutes to add the Australian title to his 2000 US Open crown when he beat Pete Sampras in straight sets.

    Safin had got off to a slow and nervous start but changed the course of the match in a drama-charged third set, when he staged astunning comeback after being down 3-0 to Hewitt, who was buoyed by his home crowd on Rod Laver Arena center court.

    Safin beat world number one Roger Federer on his 25th birthday to reach the final in a match being hailed as probably the greatest ever played at Melbourne Park.