Dimitrov nets first ATP championship

STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Oct. 20 (UPI) -- Grigor Dimitrov win his first ATP title Sunday with a three-set upset of world No. 3-ranked David Ferrer at the If Stockholm Open.

Dimitrov, seeded seventh, was marking his second championship match appearance, having dropped a tight two-set decision to Andy Murray in January. He battled Ferrer for more than 2 hours before finishing off a 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 win.

It was the first time in four career meetings that Dimitrov defeated Ferrer.

Ferrer managed 12 break-point chances versus Dimitrov but, after three first-set breaks, was unable to win a game off Dimitrov's serve in the last two sets. Dimitrov cashed in the only break of the second set to even the match and broke Ferrer's serve in the seventh-game of the third set and held on from there for the win.

Ferrer played just three matches this week -- he had a first-round bye and took his quarterfinal in a walkover of Fernando Verdasco -- but all went three sets. Dimitrov dropped only two sets on the week, losing the first set both in the semifinals and finals before rallying to win.

The $131,000 payday for Dimitrov pushed him near the $2 million point in career winnings.

Ferrer drops to 20-20 in ATP title matches. He's 2-5 in finals in 2013 with both wins coming in January. He took home about $69,000 Sunday and he's collected more than $20.4 million in his career.