Associated Press

Delrary Beach, February 7:

Xavier Malisse of Belgium won his first ATP tour title with a 7-6, 6-2 victory over Jiri Novak of the Czech Republic at the Millennium International Championships on Sunday. Third-seeded Malisse came in with a 0-6 career record in finals, including runner-up finishes at Delray Beach in 1999 and 2001.

“It feels awesome,” said Malisse, a Wimbledon semi-finalist in 2002. “I’ve never had this feeling before because I always lost. This is my first and hopefully I can get some more.”

Heading into Sunday, Malisse and another Belgian, Christophe Rochus, were the only players ranked in the top 100 who had played in at least 100 tournaments without ever winning a title.

The 28th-ranked Novak led the first set 5-2. But Malisse held to 5-3, then broke Novak when the Czech player served for the set.

In the second set, Malisse broke for a 3-1 edge when Novak double-faulted. Malisse won $52,000, Novak $30,600.

BellSouth Open:

VINA DEL MAR: Top-seeded Gaston Gaudio of Argentina won the BellSouth Open clay-court tournament on Sunday, beating second-seeded Fernando Gonzalez of Chile 6-3, 6-4. Gaudio has four career ATP Tour titles. Gonzalez won the 2002 and 2004 tournaments.

Lombardia Indoor

MILAN: Fifth-seeded Robin Soderling of Sweden beat No 4 Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic 6-3, 6-7, 7-6 in the Internazionali di Lombardia indoor final on Sunday for his second career title.

Soderling won on his third match point, adding to the title he won last year in Lyon, France.

“I’m in form, my serve is good. I hope this is my year,” said Soderling. He was the third Swede to win the Milan indoor event after Bjorn Borg in 1978 and Stefan Edberg in 1984.

Stepanek appeared in his second career final, still seeking his first ATP title.