stakhovsky claims title

Stakhovsky - dug deep for victory.

Qualifier Sergiy Stakhovsky saved a match point as he edged out Horacio Zeballos to claim victory at the St Petersburg Open.

The Ukrainian became the third qualifier this year to win an ATP World Tour title as he ground out a 2-6 7-6 (10/8) 7-6 (9/7) victory.

Stakhovsky, 23, won his only previous main tour title in Zagreb last year and he needed to dig deep after first-time finalist Zeballos raced through the opening set.

But the eighth-seeded Argentinian was pegged back in the second and then could not take advantage of a match point in the deciding tie-break as Stakhovsky sealed victory with a backhand volley.