Sydney, Dec 24: Tennis players Lleyton Hewitt and Kim Clijsters are to marry following Hewitt's proposal during a cruise on Sydney harbour.
The Australian former No.1 and the Belgian No.2 became officially engaged yesterday, according to Sydney's The Daily Telegraph newspaper today. Hewitt's management company Octagon has confirmed the engagement but said no date has been announced.
"It was a special evening together in one of the most beautiful cities in the world," Hewitt, 22, told the newspaper. "We couldn't have asked for more."
Clijsters, 20, was said to be "overjoyed". "Lleyton did surprise me a bit but I couldn't be happier," Clijsters said. "He has always been one to pay great attention to detail but I think he outdid himself this time."
The pair announced they were dating in mid 2000 at the French Open and two weeks later played the final of the Wimbledon mixed doubles.



Hewitt and Clijsters have been drawn to play against each other for their respective countries at next month's Hopman Cup in Perth.



That tournament is part of their preparation for next month's Australian Open in Melbourne.



Hewitt, who finished the year 16th in the ATP tour's champions race, played in Australia's Davis Cup winning team last month.


Bureau Report