Lleyton Hewitt returned to the winners' circle for the first time in eight months at the Las Vegas Open on Sunday and said he felt it was only a matter of time before he got back into the world's top 10.
The former world number one, who has slipped to 20th in the rankings, lifted his 26th career title and first since the Stella Artois tournament at London's Queen's Club last June by beating Austrian Juergen Melzer 6-4 7-6 in the final. Hewitt has now won at least one tournament in each of his 10 years as a professional.
The Australian, who had missed the previous two weeks with a hamstring injury, said his confidence was growing.
"It's always nice to win," he told a news conference. "I've been so used to it in the past, winning tournaments, especially early in the year. "In the past, I've been able to win in Adelaide or Sydney or Scottsdale, and it's a good feeling before three majors coming up this year.
"To win another title earlier in the year just gives you that much more confidence for the rest of the year." Hewitt said he had surprised himself by winning the title so soon after his injury.