ZAGREB, Croatia (AP)—Unseeded Ivan Dodig of Croatia won his first ATP Tour title Sunday, beating Michael Berrer of Germany 6-3, 6-4 before home fans at the Zagreb Indoors.
Dodig, who had never before gone beyond the quarterfinals at any ATP event, broke Berrer in the opening game of the first set and again in the seventh of the second set. He also saved seven break points.
“It was a great match, and I think I played very good tactically,” the 84th-ranked Dodig said. “The whole week was great for me.”
Berrer also lost in last year’s final, falling to Marin Cilic, Croatia’s highest-ranked player. A Croat has been in the Zagreb Indoor final every year since 2006, with three of them winning titles.
Dodig started well, winning the first three games of the match. Berrer had four breakpoints in the second set, including when Dodig served for the match.
Dodig hit what appeared to be an ace on match point, but umpire Cedrid Mourier overruled, claiming it was out. Dodig did not notice the ruling and started celebrating, throwing his racket to the cheering crowd.
Berrer won the next two points, but Dodig responded to wrap up the match.
“I did not play that good, it was probably my worst match during the week,” Berrer said. “It’s not good when it happens in the final, but it happened.”