Stockholm, Sweden (My Sportsbook) - Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis won his first ATP Tour event in over two years with a sound defeat of Belgian Olivier Rochus Sunday at the Stockholm Open. Baghdatis produced a 6-1, 7-5 victory against Rochus for his third career title (3-5) and first since winning at Zagreb in February 2007. The 2006 Australian Open runner-up zipped through the field without dropping a set and reached his first final since June 2007 when top-seeded Swede Robin Soderling withdraw prior to their semifinal match with an elbow injury. Rochus, who outlasted Brazilian Thomaz Bellucci 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 6-3 in a two-plus hour semifinal marathon, played his first final since a runner-up showing in Mumbai two years ago. He's now 3-5 in career title matches, last winning in May 2006 at Munich. Baghdatis pocketed $140,000 for his efforts. |
