KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Oct. 2 (UPI) -- Janko Tipsarevic out-battled Marcos Baghdatis and won his first ATP title in straight sets Sunday at the Malaysian Open.
Tipsarevic, seeded No. 3 in Kuala Lumpur, defeated Baghdatis 6-4, 7-5 in a match that took more than two hours. Tipsarevic, who turned professional in 2002, had been 0-4 in finals appearances.
He had five service breaks but needed them as Baghdatis had three breaks of his own. Tipsarevic had dropped serve only twice in his previous three matches this week.
But he still managed to win 61 percent of the points on serve and nearly half (35-40) when Baghdatis served.
The breakthrough win came after Tipsarevic lost in the finals this year at Eastbourne in England Delray, Beach, Fla. He had one finals appearance each in 2009 and 2010.
He evened his career record against Baghdatis, who fell to 4-7 in tournament finals, at 2-2.
Tipsarevic collected $155,000 along with the Malaysian Open championship trophy. Baghdatis took home $81,500.
