Commack, NY (My Sportsbook) - Second-seeded Lleyton Hewitt reached Sunday's final at the $380,000 TD Waterhouse Cup -- a final U.S. Open tune-up.

Hewitt had an easy time in his semifinal match against Dmitry Tursunov as the Russian was forced to retire early in the second set. The Australian Hewitt held a 6-3, 1-0 lead before Tursunov called it quits with a back injury on the hardcourts at the Hamlet Golf and Country Club.

"I really couldn't sense that there was something wrong with him," said Hewitt. "I was just trying to play my game out there. I felt like I played a really good first set."

Hewitt will next meet either fourth-seeded Paradorn Srichaphan or ninth-seeded Peruvian Luis Horna in Sunday's final.

The 23-year-old Hewitt has now claimed nine straight matches and is appearing in a tournament final for the third straight event. The former world No. 1 was a finalist at the Tennis Masters Series in Cincinnati where he lost to Andre Agassi and then defeated little-known Gilles Muller of Luxembourg in last Sunday's title match in Washington, D.C.

Hewitt, who has already won three titles this year, will capture the inaugural U.S. Open Series with a win on Sunday.

"I have had a pretty consistent year all year," said Hewitt. "I feel like I've been pretty close in all the Grand Slams this year and hopefully next week I can do it."

Hewitt, a two-time Grand Slam champion, is looking to record his 23rd career ATP Tour singles crown.

Srichaphan is a two-time defending champion here after defeating American James Blake in last year's final and Argentine Juan Ignacio Chela in the 2002 title match.

The 2004 Commack titlist will collect $52,000.