Florian Mayer takes first career title with Bucharest victory

HEAD racquet rebel Florian Mayer has achieved a career breakthrough, claiming his first ATP title through a comprehensive 6-3, 6-1 victory over Spain's Pablo Andujar to win the BRD Masters Tiriac Trophy. Success for Mayer and his YouTek Prestige MP on clay in the Romanian capital confirms that the World No. 22 continues to play the best season of his life. He now stands 37-22 in 2011. "The beginning was not perfect," said Mayer of the 70-minute victory in which he broke five times. "I was so nervous today. I wanted to win so badly. My legs were heavy”.

The title came as a relief after the German lost in his first four title attempts, including against Roger Federer nearly a year ago in Stockholm and in Munich (against Nikolay Davydenko) last May. His breakthrough win makes him the ninth first-time winner this season on the ATP along with HEAD stablemates (Kevin Anderson (YouTek Prestige MP) and Robin Haase (YouTek Prestige Mid). Mayer is set to crack the ranking Top 20 again as a result of his title as he works to better the 18th he achieved in June as he spent more than two months inside the elite zone.

In Metz, France, Ivan Ljubicic put up a fight in the final before falling to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-3, 6-7(4), 6-3. The 32-year-old Croatian (YouTek IG Extreme Pro) was competing in his first final of the season. Despite the defeat, Ljubicic was satisfied with his week indoors. "Of course I'd like to have won, but I am not disappointed," said Ljubicic. "It's been a long time since I last played a final. I played well today and I hope I can keep playing like this.