In tennis parlance "love" means, quite literally, nothing. Try telling that to Goran Ivanisevic.

The big man with the easy smile and twinkling eyes said goodbye to Wimbledon on Friday amid scenes of heart-warming adoration and generosity from all except his opponent Lleyton Hewitt.

If ever Hewitt has felt like a villain, this was the day. He beat the Croatian 6-2, 6-3, 6-4 to end the tennis career of one of the most popular champions in Wimbledon history.

There were flashes of brilliance but the old warhorse, patched up for one final appearance on his beloved Centre Court, could coax no more magic from his weary bones.

Three-times a losing finalist in the 1990s, to Andre Agassi in 1992 and Pete Sampras in 1994 and 1998, Ivanisevic became the first wildcard to win the world's most prestigious tournament in 2001 following a fortnight of magic.

Few players can boast such a colourful romance with the small patch of grass in southwest London.

When the moment came for him to say goodbye he stood, hands on hips, blinking back tears and surveying the scene of so many triumphs and disasters.

It was a difficult moment after 16 years but the Croatian managed it in his own unique style.

The big man with the easy smile and twinkling eyes donned a Croatian soccer shirt and waved to all corners of the court.

WIMBLEDON DEBUT

Hewitt knew his place on this day, walking back to his seat and leaving his vanquished victim on centre stage.

When Ivanisevic made his debut at the All England Club in 1988, Swede Mats Wilander was world number one.

The tennis world was a different place. Things have changed since then. Not even Ivanisevic, no stranger to Wimbledon miracles, could bridge the years on Friday.

Hewitt's speed confounded him and the Australian's legs out-lasted him.

Still capable of the set-saving ace or the flying forehand pass to pull the crowd to its feet, the bread and butter of tennis is harder to come by for Ivanisevic these days and it is in that department that Hewitt excels.

The man who inherited the injured Ivanisevic's Wimbledon crown in 2002 withstood some withering blows on Friday and waited for the cracks to appear in the Croatian's rusty game.

He did not have to wait long. Hewitt's fan club -- girlfriend Kim Clijsters and his agent -- yelled encouragement from the stands.

The rest of the crowd, including Formula One maestro Bernie Ecclestone, willed the Croatian on.

It was never going to be enough.

Some exquisite lobbing drained the energy from Ivanisevic's legs and Hewitt grabbed a break in the fourth and eighth games of the opening set to seal it 6-2.

A scream of "Come on Goran" solicited a "Yeah, yeah, yeah" from the brooding showman but he struggled to comply.

CONQUER ALL

A whipped backhand return past the advancing Ivanisevic on set point in the second set put the match beyond him.

Hewitt sensed it and broke the hushed atmosphere with a roar of encouragement before trotting to his seat.

Ivanisevic sat in his seat remonstrating with himself, sensing the end was nigh.

Another scream of "we love you Goran" from a woman high in the stands put a smile on his face and was followed by a "we love you too" from the other side of the stands. He answered with a punched forehand volley and a grin in the direction of his admirers.

If love could conquer all, Ivanisevic would have walked away with victory at a canter. Screams of delight greeted his bare chest as he changed his shirt at the change of ends, Chants of "Goran, Goran" echoed round the court, soccer stadium style.

But Hewitt was having none of it. He walloped a 112 miles per hour (180.2 kph) serve -- Ivanisevic's last in tennis -- back past the Croatian for a break for 5-4 and served out with ease.