Feisty Hewitt delivers one last spray

Retiring great Lleyton Hewitt lost his match and his cool on Thursday night in a straight-sets defeat that ended his singles career.

His competitive nature got the better of him late in the 6-2 6-4 6-4 loss to Spanish eighth-seed David Ferrer.

As the match slipped from his grasp in the third set, Hewitt unleashed a toxic spray towards officials.

A series of foot faults left the retiring Australian fuming and seeking to have a linesman withdrawn.

Hewitt asked the chair umpire to get rid of the "moron" linesman, after calling him a "f***ing cheat" following a series of foot-fault calls against the former world No.1.

In a heated confrontation at a change of ends, Hewitt unloaded on the chair umpire Pascal Maria.

"You're a friggin' idiot," he steamed.

"That's why everyone in the locker room thinks you're so full of yourself."

Maria, a 42-year-old Frenchman, is a long-serving official who has umpired several grand slam finals.

Hewitt was more conciliatory when asked about the clash in his post-match press conference.

"(It came) obviously at a frustrating time," he said.

"Being able to get myself back in that third set, it wasn't the best time.

"But it wouldn't have made a lot of difference to the match at all."

Hewitt regained his composure to shake hands with Maria after the match.