Dupuis claims his first ATP title
MILAN, Italy (Reuters) -- France's Anthony Dupuis claimed his first ATP title by beating 19-year-old Croatian Mario Ancic 6-4 6-7 7-6 in the Milan Indoor event.
Thirty-year-old Dupuis won a gruelling final between the two unseeded players after claiming the deciding set tiebreak 7-5.
Dupuis was appearing in his second ATP final, having lost to Czech Jiri Novak in Munich in 2001. Ancic was appearing in his first title match.
The Frenchman had beaten compatriot Gregory Carraz in the semi-final while Ancic defeated Sweden's Thomas Johansson to reach the final.
"I cannot describe in words how happy I feel," said Dupuis. "To win an ATP title is such a big achievement for a player.
"I am 30 years old and feel fitter than ever. This victory gives me the motivation to work even harder in the future," he added.
The tall right-hander needed 10 match points to win after failing to convert seven in the second tie break, including four successive points at 6-2.
"I had lost after having match points at the Australian Open and the challenger in Wroclaw, so obviously it was in the back of my mind after I wasted the seven match points in the second set," he said.
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