Tennis

Klizan beats Fognini for title in Russia

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Updated Sep 23, 2012 1:48 PM ET
     
 

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (AP)

Martin Klizan of Slovakia defeated Fabio Fognini of Italy 6-2, 6-3 on Sunday to win his first career ATP title at the St. Petersburg Open.

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The third-seeded Klizan broke the fourth-seeded Fognini twice in the first set and four times in the second. The last break came in the final game, when the left-hander hit a cross-court forehand winner to seal the victory.

Klizan had used his only ace of the match to close out the first set.

In the past seven months, the 23-year-old Slovak has moved up from No. 121 in the world to a career-high 45th. His breakthrough season included reaching the fourth round of the U.S. Open by beating No. 6-ranked Jo-Wilfred Tsonga.

Fognini, ranked 53rd, was playing in his second ATP final but is still looking for his first title.

Klizan reached the final in St. Petersburg by upsetting top-seeded Mikhail Youzhny of Russia in a three-set match that lasted nearly four hours Saturday. After a short break, Klizan played a doubles semifinal, which he and his partner lost.

''I was really dead yesterday after the match, but I played very solid this week and I'm very happy that I won this week,'' Klizan said. ''It's my first title and I hope not last, and I hope I can make more points in the end of this season.''

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