Former world number one Lleyton Hewitt [ Images ] defeated an ailing Gael Monfils 7-5, 6-3 to win the invitational Kooyong Classic in Melbourne [ Images ] on Saturday and take a timely shot of confidence into next week's Australian Open [ Images ].

While Hewitt appeared in great touch to wrap up the match in 89 minutes, 12th-ranked Frenchman Monfils was clearly restricted in his movement and grimaced repeatedly when chasing down returns on a steamy day at Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club.

Monfils said in the lead-up to the tournament he had struggled to recover from a knee injury in the wake of France's [ Images ] Davis Cup final loss to Serbia last month and now appears a fitness doubt two days before action starts at Melbourne Park.

Twice grand slam champion Hewitt, coming back after three months off to recover from a hand injury, will take heart from three successive victories at Kooyong, where he also beat Russians Nikolay Davydenko [ Images ] and world number 10 Mikhail Youzhny.

The 29-year-old's ranking has drifted to 54 but he is adamant he still has the game to trouble the top players at Melbourne Park.

Simon claims Sydney [ Images ] crown

France's Gilles Simon came through a second-set stutter to beat Serbian Viktor Troicki 7-5, 7-6 in an enthralling final of the Sydney International on Saturday.

The 26-year-old former world number six, who recovered from a 3-0 deficit at the start of the second set, continued his return from a knee injury with his eighth tour title, triumphing after two gripping 58-minute sets at the Sydney Olympic [ Images ] Park.

Fourth seed Troicki, roared on by a large section of Serbian Sydneysiders, played his part in the entertaining contest but showed his inexperience with mistakes at key moments and ended up a ball of frustration.

Simon's fifth victory in five meetings with Troicki was a vindication of sorts after he was dropped for the deciding rubber against the 24-year-old in France's Davis Cup final defeat to Serbia last month.