The couple's agents confirmed the engagement in a statement and said Hewitt proposed to 21-year-old Cartwright, a star of Australia's Home and Away series, shortly after losing to Safin at Melbourne Park.

"Lleyton and Bec met five years ago at a Starlight Foundation charity tennis day and rekindled their relationship late last year," the statement said.

"The couple were instantly committed to each other and their close connection has been well documented in the media through their public acknowledgement and mutual support.

"Bec proudly revealed the ring presented to her by Lleyton earlier this evening to overjoyed family and friends at the post-tennis final celebrations."

World number three Hewitt's proposal comes three months after his much-publicised break-up with leading Belgian tennis player Kim Clijsters after an almost five-year relationship.

Clijsters and Hewitt were to be married next month.

Media reports Monday said that 23-year-old Hewitt got down on bended knee in a quiet corner to propose to Cartwright before heading off to a private party celebrating the end of the year's first tennis grand slam.

Channel Seven reported that Cartwright had no advance warning, but Hewitt was prepared, offering her a large diamond engagement ring.

Hewitt, who has won more than 14 million US dollars in career tennis prize money, came close to fulfilling his childhood dream of winning the Australian Open and the first by a home-grown player since Mark Edmondson in 1976.

Hewitt, who had spent the last nine months carefully tailoring his schedule and training regime for an all-out assault on the Australian title, went down to fourth-seed Safin 1-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 in the final in the first night final of the Australian Open.

He said after the final that he would not be playing tennis throughout February and that his next match would be for Australia in the Davis Cup World Group first round tie against Austria in Sydney on March 4-6.

Cartwright split with actor boyfriend Beau Brady late last year.