Klizan Claims Maiden Title in St. Petersburg

Martin Klizan became the ATP Tour's first 1st-time titlist in 2012 when he defeated Fabio Fognini in St. Petersburg today, while Rajeev Ram and Nenad Zimonjic took the doubles title

By Chris Oddo

Martin Klizan wins his first ATP title at the 2012 St. Petersburg Open

(September 23, 2012) -- 23-year-old Slovakian Martin Klizan became the ATP’s first player to win a maiden title in 2012 when he defeated Fabio Fognini 6-2, 6-3 in the final of the St. Petersburg Open.

Klizan, who has won four ATP Challenger titles in addition to defeating Jo-Wilfried Tsonga en route to a career-best fourth-round finish at the U.S. Open this year, should rise to about No. 33 in the ATP rankings with the title.

"It's always very difficult to play a tournament after Davis Cup," said Klizan in his press conference after the match. "I've played many matches and it was a tough Davis Cup for us, so it was a very, very tough week this one."

After surviving a trying three-hour and forty-nine minute battle with Mikhail Youzhny on Saturday, Klizan rebounded nicely today, making short work of Fognini in just sixty-nine minutes.

Klizan jumped to a 4-0 lead in the first set before winning it 6-2, only losing five points on his serve and facing zero break points.

In the second set, after a wild beginning that featured four breaks of serve, the 6’2” lefty took the final three games on the trot to seal the title. Klizan converted all four break points he saw in the final set. Fognini was disappointed by his play. "On the court today he played his best tennis ever and I did not play my best tennis for sure," shared the Italian.

With the victory, Klizan became the first Slovakian to win an ATP title in nine years. Fognini, who was also bidding for his first ATP title, dropped to 22-20 on the season.

Klizan now focuses on his other goals to move up in the rankings. "I said last year that I would like to be Top 100 by the end of this year and I've already done it. Now I've been Top 50, Top 40, maybe I can be Top 30 at the end of the year. I hope I can be healthy and still with enough power to play until the end of the season. I've played many, many great weeks.”

Ram and Zimonjic take doubles title

Rajeev Ram and Nenad Zimonjic defeated Lukas Lacko and Igor Zelenay, 6-2, 4-6, 10-6 to win the doubles crown in St. Petersburg. The top seeds won three consecutive match tiebreaks in the final three rounds en route to their first title in their first appearance together as a duo.

(Photo Credit: Getty Images/Dmitry Lovetsky)

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