HONG KONG, Sept. 29 (UPI) -- Juan Carlos Ferrero held off third seed Carlos Moya, 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (7-4), Sunday in the all-Spanish final of the $400,000 Salem Open.
Seeded second, Ferrero was hoping to win his first title without losing a set, but settled for his second tournament victory of the season. He won the Tennis Masters Series event at Monte Carlo in May.
The 22-year-old Spaniard captured his seventh career crown - second on hard courts. Ferrero, who takes home $51,500, appeared in his first Grand Slam final at the French Open and was runner-up at the Generali Open at Kitzbuhel in July.
Ferrero improved to 6-2 lifetime against Moya, winning his third title at the expense of his compatriot.
Moya, 26, is having his best season in four years but could not claim his fifth tournament of the season and remains deadlocked with Lleyton Hewitt and Andre Agassi for the tour lead. He lost for only the fourth time in his last 29 matches.
