SYDNEY (AP) -- Viktor Troicki of Serbia beat Kazakhstan's Mikhail Kukushkin, 6-2, 6-3, on Saturday to win the Sydney International title in the first ATP final between two qualifiers.
Troicki, once ranked No. 12 in the world, sank to No. 847 following a 12-month doping ban for failing to take a blood test during the Monte Carlo Masters in 2013.
This is the Serbian's second title, and he could move up to as high as No. 70 when new rankings are released on Monday.
Troicki, who started and finished the match with an ace, will play his first-round match at the Australian Open against another victorious weekend qualifier, Jiri Vesely.
Vesely, of the Czech Republic, won the Heineken Open in Auckland, New Zealand, on Saturday.