Lleyton Hewitt has paid tribute to Phil Hughes by dedicating his International Premier Tennis League victory to the Australia batsman.

The 25-year-old passed away at St Vincent's Hospital in Sydney last week, just two days after being struck by a ball during a Sheffield Shield match at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Former world number one Hewitt, who partnered countryman Nick Kyrgios to help Singapore Slammers on the way to their first victory of the event, revealed after his triumph that Hughes's funeral, which took place yesterday, hit him hard.

"I sat and watched the whole funeral – it was one of the toughest things I've sat through," he told reporters in Singapore. "I can't speak how tough his family and friends are doing at the moment and the Australian cricket team but it's really knocked the whole nation, not just the sport but the people in Australia as well.

"But this is when people have to come together, to come as one and I've been really proud of our country."

Hewitt has won two Grand Slam crowns during his career to date.