Monday 21 July 2014 09:20, UK
Wildcard Bernard Tomic almost fluffed his lines but ultimately managed to dethrone Ivo Karlovic and clinch the Claro Open Colombia title.
The Australian world No 124 surrendered the second set in Bogota after winning the first on a tie-break, but looked poised to finally clinch his second ATP World Tour title when reaching match point in the third.
Croatia's No 2 seed Karlovic - the one-time Wimbledon quarter-finalist - forced deuce and then a decisive breaker, which 21-year-old Tomic won to triumph 7-6 (7-5) 3-6 7-6 (7-4) at the Centro de Alto Rendimiento.
The former world No 27, who had double hip surgery in January, is now set to return to the top 100 of the ATP Rankings after winning his first final since his maiden success at the Apia International Sydney in January 2013.
Karlovic powered 39 aces past his opponent in a match that lasted almost two hours and 13 minutes but his quest for a sixth ATP title continues.
Before trumping Alejandro Falla in Bogota last July, he had twice claimed the top prize in Nottingham and won Tour finals in Houston and Stockholm.
"He's a very difficult player," Tomic said of Karlovic. "He won here last year. For me it was a difficult match. I kept trying and believing in myself. Against him, if you stop believing and trying he will beat you.
"It's my first tournament on hard courts since my surgeries in Australia. This title is huge and it's one I will always remember."
Karlovic said: "It is difficult when you lose like this. I had a lot of opportunities in the beginning.
"All in all it was a great week. I was in the final again and I can only be happy. I really like the conditions here and hopefully I will be back next year."
In what turned out to be a good weekend for Australian tennis, Sam Groth and Chris Guccione won the doubles title in Bogota.
