This is the closest Lleyton Hewitt got to Australian Open glory. Here's how Marat Safin took the crown
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The consolation prize
This is the closest Lleyton Hewitt ever got to the ultimate prize at the Australian Open.
In this picture the Aussie world No.3 receives the runner-up plate from legend Ken Rosewall after losing the 2005 final at Melbourne Park to Russian star Marat Safin.
It was the crowning glory of Safin's career, while for Hewitt it was a case of what might have been.
Twenty years on, Wide World of Sports looks back at the last time an Aussie man played in the decider of the Australian Open, and how Safin broke a nation's hearts.
Scroll on as we recall how the tournament unfolded for both players before their fateful meeting on January 30.
Raring to go
The Russian star, who spent nine weeks as the world No.1 after winning his first grand slam title at the US Open in 2000, had by 2005 established himself as a perennial top five player and had lost two previous Australian Open finals that he thought he should have won (to Thomas Johansson in 2002 and to Roger Federer in 2004.
Fit, healthy and starting the season as the world No.4 and fourth seed, Safin was among the favourites to win the title in 2005. Having ditched the infamous entourage that made headlines in 2002, the Russian star, who started the tournament as a 25-year-old and turned 26 three days before the final, knuckled down in preparation for arguably the finest moment of his career.
In this picture he is working with coach Peter Lundgren at Melbourne Park just before his campaign began.
First up, a teen prodigy
Even in 2005, when he was just 17, there were whispers about the emergence of a future superstar by the name of Novak Djokovic.
At the other end of the net when Safin struck this forehand in their first round match, the Serbian would have to wait a little longer for a grand slam breakthrough.
Safin won the match 6-0, 6-2, 6-1.
The innocence of youth
Having qualified for his first ever main draw appearance at a grand slam, Novak Djokovic was no match for Safin, who bullied him in a brutally one-sided match.
There was plenty of hype around the then 17-year-old Djokovic, but this performance didn't draw any headlines.
Perfect start for the local hero
On the face of it, the first round draw for Lleyton Hewitt wasn't the kindest, with the local hope facing a former Australian Open finalist in Frenchman Arnaud Clement.
Clement lost the 2001 decider in a one-sided final against Andre Agassi and he didn't fare much better against Hewitt who got his campaign off to a strong start with a 6-3, 6-4, 6-1 victory.
Fashion crime, big loss
At 27, Clement should have been at the peak of his powers but it's fair to say he was going through somewhat of a slump when he arrived in Melbourne in 2005.
An ambassador for Lacoste, this picture indicates that he was stitched up by the fashion label as well as the draw, and was no match for the world No.3.
Purple form
Two rounds in and Safin was already sending a message to the rest of the draw, crushing Czech Bohdan Ulihrach 6-4, 6-1, 6-3 to cruise into the third round, barely having raised a sweat.
First big test
On the other side of the draw, Hewitt wasn't having things quite so easy, with tough American competitor James Blake his opponent in the second round.
Hewitt dropped the first set and was very nearly staring down the barrel of a two sets to love deficit, before an epic tiebreaker swung the match his way.
Hewitt, pictured moving forward to strike a forehand during the match, prevailed 4-6, 7-6(8), 6-0, 6-3.
Classy sportsmanship
One of the most popular players in the locker room, Blake had some scintillating battles with Hewitt during their careers and this was no exception.
Pictured applauding a winner from Hewitt, Blake lost this match but had an excellent few years afterwards, rising to a highest ranking of No.4 in November 2006.
A scare for Safin
Mario Ancic was always a tricky opponent and the 28th-seeded Croatian gave Safin plenty to think about before he prevailed in four sets.
In this photo Safin is sprawled face down on the court after twisting his ankle in the fourth set, an added snag for his campaign.
