It’s perhaps the most remarkable win in a career full of them.

Lleyton Hewitt finally won over the Australian public.

The phenomenon that destroyed Pete Sampras in a US Open final at the age of 21, the wunderkind that marched to a Wimbledon title at 22, was always an acquired taste.

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Like blue cheese, he was a bit on the nose.

His theft of the Mats Wilander salute, which he then tried to copyright, the waft of racism at the 2001 US Open and his over-the-top celebrations whenever his opponent would make an unforced error made him unpalatable to most fair-minded tennis lovers.

In 2006, he was voted No.10 on a GQ list of the world’s most-hated athletes.

But Lleyton did what he does best – he stuck around, he ground it out.

One final wave goodbye to Wimbledon. Photo: Getty

He’s like a drunk uncle you know will start a fight at Christmas, but you keep inviting him into your home year after year.

He’s chipped away at us all these years, wearing down our defences in a gruelling five-setter he was always going to win.

As his skills have eroded, his popularity has increased.

And even as his body declined, he was still able to produce moments of magic in big matches.

Like taking a set off eventual champion Novak Djokovic at the 2012 Australian Open.

He electrified Rod Laver Arena that night, possibly the last time he was truly dangerous.

His last appearance at Wimbledon was fitting – a five-set loss against Jarkko Nieminen, a life-and-death struggle with no quarter asked or given on Court 2.

Hewitt got his licks in, then walked off the grass for good.

He’ll play the Australian Open next year, and the platitudes will flow.

Last night Channel 7 began their telecast with an extended tribute to the pugnacious South Australian, Hamish McLachlan quoting George S. Patton.

One can only imagine the overkill we’ll be subjected to next January.

Hewitt, meanwhile, appears immune to sentiment.

After his defeat, he was his usual steely self.

“I’m not a big crier,” he said.

“I haven’t cried today… I was pretty close, but not quite.”

Hewitt revealed he cried after Davis Cup matches more than anything else, hardly surprising for someone who never let his country down.

Contrast that with Bernard Tomic, who has missed Davis Cup ties before and looks set to miss more after a dispute with Tennis Australia.

Australia’s tennis future – comprised of Nick Kyrgios, Thanasi Kokkinakis and Tomic – may look bright, shiny and full of promise.

But Kyrgios and Tomic are, at this stage, about as unlikeable as Hewitt was at the same age, only boasting none of success.

Only time will tell if tennis fans come to hold them dear as well.