Make us your homepage

 

Stakhovsky wins St. Petersburg Open for 2nd title

11/1/2009 3:05:00 PM

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (AP) -Ukrainian qualifier Sergiy Stakhovsky won his second career title Sunday, saving a match point before beating eighth-seeded Horacio Zeballos of Argentina 2-6, 7-6 (8), 7-6 (7) in the St. Petersburg Open.

The 93rd-ranked Stakhovsky won his first title last year in Zagreb, Croatia.

He is the third qualifier to win a tournament this year. The others are Benjamin Becker of Germany at the Ordina Open in June, and Thomaz Bellucci of Brazil in July at the Allianz Suisse Open in Gstaad, Switzerland.

Stakhovsky saved a match point in the third-set tiebreaker, and sealed the win with a backhand volley on his second match point.

``Frankly speaking, I didn't expect to win,'' Stakhovsky said. ``Zeballos played better today. He moved, served and received better, but at the end of the second set he eased the pressure and that cost him the match.''

The 54th-ranked Zeballos, playing in his fourth ATP event, hadn't dropped a set on the way to his first final.

``I'm satisfied with my results in St. Petersburg,'' Zeballos said. ``On key points, Stakhovsky played well while I couldn't put in my first serve. I should have played more aggressively on my break points in the second set.''

Comments



Post Comments

User comments may be used on television and other Tennis Channel media platforms. Comments that include profanity, or personal attacks, or antisocial behavior such as "spamming" or "trolling," or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from this site. Tennis Channel will take steps to block users who violate any of Tennis Channel�s terms of use or privacy policy. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.