SERBIA'S Janko Tipsarevic has compatriot Viktor Troicki to thank after he captured his maiden career ATP Tour title at the Malaysian Open in Bukit Jalil yesterday.
Tipsarevic, the third seed, turned in an inspired performance to end Cypriot wild card Marcos Baghdatis' gallant run in the tournament with a 6-4, 7-5 win in the 127-minute final.
The World No 17 turned to Troicki, who lost to Baghdatis in the semi-finals, for tips on playing the Cypriot just hours before the final.
"Troicki told me not to feel frustrated or get angry if I drop points on my serve as Baghdatis also gives chances to break him on his serve. I remembered his advice when Baghdatis had broken me once to lead 3-0 in the first set," said Tipsarevic, who turned professional in 2002, at Putra Stadium.
On what he did differently at the Malaysian Open, Tipsaveric said he mixed his game with a variety of defensive and offensive shots.
"In previous finals, I played either too offensive or too defensive but today (yesterday) I balanced it and it made a difference. This victory means a lot especially to win it here where I feel very comfortable," he said.
It was a nervy start for Tipsarevic, a finalist at Delray Beach and Eastbourne this season, as he struggled with his first serve in his opening two service games and found himself down 3-1 in the first set.
But the 27-year-old rallied back by mixing his shots to break Baghdatis' serve twice to take a 5-3 lead before his opponent won the next game to reduce the deficit.
The Belgrade-born, however, remained calm to claim the 10th game on his serve for the first set in 52 minutes.
Baghdatis started confidently in the second set by holding serve in the first game but Tipsarevic raised his game to break the third and fifth games for a 4-1 lead.
The champion lost the following two games but managed to hold his serve in the eighth game for a 5-3 lead. Tipsarevic, however, got nervous and allowed Baghdatis back into the match as the World No 60 levelled proceedings at 5-5.
After breaking the 11th game for a 6-5 lead, Tipsarevic, who was on serve in the next game clinched the winning point on his third match point attempt after Baghdatis had hit his return into the net.
"I admit I felt a bit nervous as I've not won a title before in the closing stages of the match but luckily I managed to recover in time." he added.
Tipsarevic left for Tokyo yesterday to compete in the Japan Open where he will open his campaign against Russia's Dmitry Tursunov in the first round on Wednesday.
