Stockholm - Unseeded Marcos Baghdatis snapped an ATP trophy dry spell stretching back two and a half years Sunday with a 6-1, 7-5 defeat of Oliver Rochus to win the Stockholm Open on his debut. The 2006 Australian Open finalist from Cyprus, troubles by injuries over the past few seasons, followed up titles at three lower-level Challenger events dating to August as he swept through the Stockholm field without dropping a set all week.
Baghdatis was watched in the final by his mother and godmother who travelled from his homeland but also the country's ambassador in Stockholm.
"I want to blow a kiss to my mother and godmother, thank you for coming," said the winner after his 23rd victory of the season. "It's been a tough year for me.
"Olivier played great, he's given so much on the court. It's great to win.
"I only got into the draw late and flew here all the way from Tashkent. Then I end up winning it, fantastic."
Baghdatis claimed his last ATP trophy Zagreb in February, 2007. He stands to improve his 66th after winning ranking as he looks ahead to the 2010 season with three more weeks to play in the current campaign.
The winner took the opening set with two breaks of serve, but found himself in a battle in the second. He escaped on match point with his 15th ace after one hour, 38 minutes after breaking Rochus for the fifth time the game before.
