Qualifier Stakhovsky wins St. Petersburg event

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (AP)—Ukrainian qualifier Sergiy Stakhovsky won his second career title Sunday, saving a match point before beating eighth-seeded Horacio Zeballos of Argentina 2-6, 7-6 (8), 7-6 (7) in the St. Petersburg Open.

The 93rd-ranked Stakhovsky won his first title last year in Zagreb, Croatia.

He is the third qualifier to win a tournament this year. The others are Benjamin Becker of Germany at the Ordina Open in June, and Thomaz Bellucci of Brazil in July at the Allianz Suisse Open in Gstaad, Switzerland.

Stakhovsky saved a match point in the third-set tiebreaker, and sealed the win with a backhand volley on his second match point.

“Frankly speaking, I didn’t expect to win,” Stakhovsky said. “Zeballos played better today. He moved, served and received better, but at the end of the second set he eased the pressure and that cost him the match.”

The 54th-ranked Zeballos, playing in his fourth ATP event, hadn’t dropped a set on the way to his first final.

“I’m satisfied with my results in St. Petersburg,” Zeballos said. “On key points, Stakhovsky played well while I couldn’t put in my first serve. I should have played more aggressively on my break points in the second set.”