Australia's Lleyton Hewitt prevented Tim Henman from claiming his eighth ATP Tour title - and then tipped him for Wimbledon glory.

Hewitt successfully defended his Stella Artois Championships title by beating the British No 1 7-6, 7-6 in a thrilling final at Queen's Club.

Tim Henman

But the 20-year-old still reckons Henman deserves to be one of the favourites for Wimbledon when the third Grand Slam of the year begins next week at the All England Club.

"To beat two of the favourites for Wimbledon in Pete and Tim in one day is great," said Hewitt who had come back from a set down in the morning to beat Wimbledon champion Pete Sampras in their delayed semi-final.

"It's unbelievable. I would have said you were probably dreaming if you said that was going to happen.

"It gives me great confidence and it's great that I get another chance this year at Wimbledon to do better than last year. I don't want to bomb out in the first round again.

"Tim is a great player and played well all week. We all know how much he looks forward to these few weeks. It could have gone either way.

"He has a big chance at Wimbledon. In the last few years he has got to the semis and quarter-finals pretty consistently. It depends on the draw but if things fall his way, he is going to be hard to beat.

"He is extremely tough to pass, he's all over the net and has super volleys. A few times I got some good returns down to his feet but he was always coming up with some great volleys."

Henman, who also came from a set down to beat Wayne Ferreira in the semi-finals, will have to cut out the unforced errors however if he is to win in SW19, those errors costing him dear in both tie-breaks and when he served for the second set.

"I honestly don't think I can have any complaints," said Henman who has only won seven of the 19 Tour finals he has contested, also having lost in the final at Queen's in 1999 to Sampras.

"I played a good match, he was a bit better than me and all credit to him. It seems the bigger the challenge you give him the better he plays.

"I played a great game to break him in the second set and just when there was perhaps some momentum going my way he hits four winners to break back and that's when you can't question yourself.

"I can't have any complaints about my game either. I've been satisfied with the way I've been hitting the ball and I feel confident I can play well at Wimbledon. I was keen to have a good week and I think I've done that.

"I would have loved to have won here, no question. But what does that guarantee me at Wimbledon? It doesn't guarantee me anything. But I still feel I can do well."