Hewitt Outlasts Agassi for Title

Lleyton Hewitt’s return to tennis tested his stamina, both mentally and physically.

The top-ranked Australian got off to a rocky start but recovered to beat Andre Agassi, 4-6, 7-6 (6), 7-6 (4), in the Siebel Open final Sunday in San Jose.

Second-seeded Agassi, playing in his first tournament of the year after a wrist injury, had won the San Jose tournament four times. Hewitt was playing his first tournament since losing in the first round of the Australian Open after a bout with chickenpox.

Agassi was also playing his first tournament under new coach Darren Cahill, Hewitt’s old coach.

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Serena Williams did her older sister a favor by beating Jennifer Capriati, 6-2, 4-6, 6-4, in the final of the State Farm Women’s Tennis Classic in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Capriati’s loss means Venus Williams will keep the No. 1 world ranking for at least a second week.

“I owe her a ton,” said Serena, who will improve from No. 9 to No. 6 when the WTA announces its rankings today.

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Fabrice Santoro of France won the Dubai Open, beating Younes El Aynaoui of Morocco, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.... The U.S. Tennis Assn. selected Houston as the site for a Davis Cup quarterfinal match against Spain on April 5-7. The match will be played on grass.