Klizan beats Fognini for his first career ATP

Martin Klizan of Slovakia defeated Fabio Fognini of Italy 6-2, 6-3 on Sunday to win his first career ATP title at the St. Petersburg Open. The third-seeded Klizan broke the fourth-seeded Fognini twice in the first set and four times in the second, including in the final game when the left-handed Slovak hit a cross-court forehand winner to seal the victory. Klizan had used his only ace of the match to close out the first set. The 23-year-old Slovak is ranked a career-high No. 45 in the world after reaching the fourth round of the US Open by beating No. 6-ranked Jo-Wilfred Tsonga. Fognini, ranked 53rd, was playing in his second ATP final, but is still looking for his first title. In the semifinals Klizan had beaten top seed and 2004 champion Mikhail Youzhny of Russia 6-7 (11/13), 6-4, 7-6 (7/3) in an epic battle.