Nieminen bests Benneteau in Sydney final

SYDNEY, Jan. 14 (UPI) -- Jarkko Nieminen made better use of his first serves to down Julien Benneteau 6-2, 7-5 Sunday and claim the rain-delayed Apia International Sydney.

The championship final was originally set for Saturday but rain forced a postponement until Sunday, when Nieminen became the first qualifier to win an ATP World Tour title since Sergiy Stakhovsky took the St. Petersburg title in 2009.

Nieminen got 80 percent of his first serves in, while his opponent could manage only 60 percent.

The Finn also took 32-of-43 first-serve points and double-faulted only once in notching only his second career win and first in six years.

Benneteau dropped to 0-6 in his career in ATP final events.