Ancic claims St Petersburg spoils

Mario Ancic, the third seed from Croatia, collected his second title of the year with a 7-5 7-6 (7-2) victory over Thomas Johansson of Sweden at the $1 million St Petersburg Open on Sunday.

With his first win since the grasscourt Ordina Open in June, Ancic jumped past Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus for 10th place in the race to qualify for a spot in the eight-man Tennis Masters Cup. Only next week's Paris Masters remains before the year-end event in Shanghai.

Ancic converted his only break chance in the first set to grab the lead. Looking to become the first consecutive winner since Marat Safin in 2001, Johansson went ahead, 5-2, in the second before Ancic stormed back by taking the next three games - and, in the tiebreak, Ancic notched the first three points en route to the win, collecting $142,000.