Damir Dzumhur says he is proud to be the first player representing Bosnia to win an ATP title.
The 25-year-old defeated Fabio Fognini to win the St. Petersburg event.
"I'm really happy that my country, Bosnia-Herzegovina, has a winner of an ATP World Tour title," he told the ATP website. "It was definitely one of my dreams when I was young, when I was playing as a kid. Playing big tournaments and winning one of them, which the St. Petersburg Open definitely is."
Dzumhur was born just as war began in his native country, and then, as an aspiring pro, had to leave for better training facilities in Italy. He was also the first player representing Bosnia to play a Grand Slam event.
"Support is always important and my biggest support was all the time from my family, my mother and father. Especially my father, who was my coach since I was five. He was always with me, helping me and definitely I can say he brought me here, to where I am right now.
As a family, it's really important. I always play for them and all my results I give to them," he said.
"Also, my girlfriend was really helping me a lot, travelling with me to the tournaments. The last few months, I haven't had a tennis coach. She was always there and helping me. And, of course, my fitness coach."
Barely in the Top 100 just a few months ago, he is now at a career-high No. 40 in the rankings. Dzumhur has scheduled seven straight weeks of events, aiming to lift his ranking further before the season finishes.
St. Petersburg was the second ATP final of his career.