Japanese teenager Kei Nishikori stunned American top seed James Blake 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 on Sunday to win the ATP title in Florida.
The 18-year-old, ranked 244th in the world, claimed his first career crown and became the first Japanese man to win a tour event since Shuzo Matsuoka in Seoul in April 1992.
Nishikori, who had to qualify to get into the main draw of the US$411,000 hardcourt tournament, was playing in his first ATP final.
PHOTO: AP
He has been based in Florida since he began training at the Bollitierri Academy at the age of 14.
"Last night I tried to imagine winning the final, but I couldn't do it," Nishikori admitted. "I was so nervous in the first set. During the second set I started to feel more confident."
"This is the best tournament in my life," he said. "I am so happy right now. I played eight matches in nine days but I didn't feel tired."
Nishikori won't get much chance to rest. He received a special exemption into the main draw of the tournament which started yesterday in San Jose, California.
"I am now happy to be going to play the main draw of San Jose," he said. "I love California. They have great Asian food."
Blake, 29 and ranked 12th in the world, got off to a quick start against his inexperienced opponent and appeared to be on his way to an 11th career title after taking the first set.
But Nishikori kept his cool. He used impressive speed around the court and hit winners from both sides to take a 4-0 lead in the second as he leveled the match at one set apiece.
He saved three break points in the second game of the third set, then broke Australian Open quarter-finalist Blake in the next game and held to love for a 3-1 lead. At 5-4 he served out the match with another love game.
Nishikori, who was playing in his first ATP tournament of the year, had saved four match points en route to victory over American third-seed Sam Querrey in the semi-finals.
"He played really well and didn't show any kind of nerves," said Blake, who hadn't lost to a player ranked as low as Nishikori since falling to No. 262 Teimuraz Gabashvili in Florida in 2005.
"I didn't feel like I returned as well as I had in past matches. One break in a three-set match says a lot on my part. I felt he'd be carefree and play like he had nothing to lose. After you save four match points in the semis you are playing with house money. He hit cold winners at times you wouldn't expect them," Blake said.
Prior to Delray Beach, Nishikori had played in just five ATP events, posting a 3-5 record last year.
This season he had been battling to find his form on the Challenger development circuit.
He reached the semi-finals of the Miami Challenger last month and four weeks ago lost in the qualifying rounds of the Dallas Challenger.
With his triumph, Nishikori is projected to rise to around No. 122 in the ATP rankings.
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