Taking home the title
Finnish qualifier Jarkko Nieminen won the Sydney International for his second ATP title.
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
SYDNEY, Australia -- Finnish qualifier Jarkko Nieminen won the Sydney International for his second ATP title, beating France's Julien Benneteau 6-2, 7-5 on Sunday in the rain-delayed final.
Nieminen was making his 12th finals appearance, while Benneteau lost for the sixth straight time in a championship match. Nieminen is the first qualifier since Lee Hyung-taik in 2003 to win the event.
Benneteau broke Nieminen's service in the opening game, but that was the only time the Finnish left-hander lost his service in the match postponed by rain Saturday night.
Nieminen open the Australian Open in Melbourne on Monday against former Wimbledon finalist David Nalbandian. Benneteau will face Karol Beck on Tuesday.
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