The ATP Kremlim Cup concluded today as Tipsarevic played in his first ATP tour final.

The final of the ATP Kremlin Cup in Moscow saw Janko Tipsarevic take on Mikhail Youzhny.  Youzhny entered the match as the favorite as he has been the hotter player on tour lately and as he entered the tournament with a significantly higher rank than Tipsarevic.  Also, Youzhny was playing in a home country event that made the crowd very partisan in his favor.

Tipsarevic, however, was unphased in the first set as he played numerous key points with the mental toughness needed to take down a tour title.  The two players produced very similar statistics in terms of unforced errors and serve percentages and the difference in the set was minimal as Tipsarevic won the tie break to take the first set 7-6 (7-5).

However the second set was nowhere near competitive as Youzhny opened with a break and then deflated Tipsarevic with another break at 2-0.  Toward the end of the second set Tipsarevic, apparently resigned to a 3rd set, didn't seem at all interested in chasing down some pretty weak attempts from Youzhny.  At triple set point for example, a medium paced ball that might be described as a weak "set up shot" toward the middle of the court by Youzhny actually went for a winner as Tipsarevic barely jogged in the direction of the ball.

Tipsarevic's efforts were better to begin the third set as his energy level increased but the results remained the same.  Youzhny, receiving to start the third and final set, played a tough opening game and earned a break point after a long deuce game.  After converting the break point, Youzhny put himself on the ascension for the match and for the title.

Tipsarevic showed some life in fighting off triple break point in the 7th game of the 3rd set and a few match points in the 9th game but giving up the early break cost him his first serious chance at an ATP title.  Youzhny looked notably better on this day as he took down the home title, 6-7, 6-0, 6-4.

Due to the fact that this tournament was a 250 level tour event, neither player should be jumping up more than a few spots in the new Monday rankings.

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