© Neja Markicevic
Lucky loser Sergiy Stakhovsky, a 22-year-old from Ukraine, playing in his first career ATP singles final, defeated top seed and local favorite Ivan Ljubicic 7-5, 6-4 to win the PBZ Zagreb Indoors.

Stakhovsky, who came in ranked No. 209 in the South African Airways ATP Rankings, is the first lucky loser to win an ATP title since Argentine Christian Miniussi at Sao Paulo on Nov. 10, 1991 and the first player from Ukraine to win an ATP title since Andrei Medvedev won ATP Masters Series Hamburg in May 1997.

"I definitely surprised myself with my mental side that I could stand over to win the matches," said Stakhovsky. "It wasn't easy, to go when you serve for the match against against Karlovic, or Tipsarevic or any other player, in the far stages of the tournament such as the quarterfinals, semifinals or final. It's really not easy. I am just surprised the way I handled this."

In the final, Stakhovsky broke in the 11th game of the opening set and ninth game of the second set before serving out both sets. He converted two of five break points while saving the one break point he faced.

After losing in the last round of qualifying to Blaz Kavcic of Slovenia, Stakhovsky gained entry into the main draw when Michael Llodra withdrew. In the first round, Stakhovsky defeated No. 2 seed Ivo Karlovic, then No. 8 Janko Tipsarevic in the quarterfinals before beating top seed Ljubicic in the title match.

"For me it was easier because I was the lucky loser and under less pressure than he was because he was in front of the home crowd. But it was a really close match and it's hard to explain what happened. It was just a close match, and I was just a little bit more lucky, a couple of shots that actually decided the match and I am really happy to win this title."

Stakhovsky is the fifth lucky loser to win an ATP title (since 1978), joining Miniussi, Francisco Clavet (1990 Hilversum), Bill Scanlon (1978 Maui) and Heinz Gunthardt (1978 Springfield).

Ljubicic was appearing in his third straight Zagreb final, winning the title two years ago and reaching the final in 2007-08. It was the No. 1 Croat's 20th career ATP final (8-12).

"Sergiy played unbelieveable," said Ljubicic. "Since he lost in qualies, he played some fantanstic matches, (against) Karlovic, Tipsarevic, Bolelli and myself and he was just too good. I tried everything and didn't work and he won his first title and it's great for him but I am also happy with the finals. I am feeling good and hope my form is going to come back more consistently and now with the Masters Series coming up, the last two years I've played well there and hope to play well again."

ATP Tournament Profile | Zagreb TV Schedule

Friday: Ljubicic to Meet Stakhovsky in Final
Thursday: Ljubicic Sets Up Ancic SF; Stakhovsky Upsets Tipsarevic
Wednesday: Rochus, Ancic, Ljubicic Advance to Zagreb Quarterfinals
Tuesday: Ljubicic, Simon Advance; Karlovic, Mahut Fall
Monday: Koubek Saves 2 M.P.s to Reach Second Round