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Tomic wins maiden title as Ferrer claims Auckland treble

Bernard Tomic poses with his new trophy © Getty Images

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Bernard Tomic lived up to his potential as he claimed his first title on the ATP Tour after winning in front of his home fans at the Sydney International.

The 20-year-old, whose attitude and off-court behaviour has been criticised after slipping down the rankings, bcame the first home winner of the event since Lleyton Hewitt in 2005 after he defeated Kevin Anderson 6-3 6-7(2) 6-3.

Tomic, who is set reclaim the Australian No. 1 ranking from compatriot Marinko Matosevic, raced to a 3-0 lead before closing out the opening set inside half-an-hour.

The big-serving South African forced a decider after winning a second set tiebreak in convincing fashion, but Tomic dug deep, converting his seventh break point in the final set to put him on course for victory.

"It's a great honour to win my first title here," Tomic said. "It's been a long time coming but I've finally got one of these trophies."

Meanwhile, world No. 5 David Ferrer claimed his fourth title at the Heineken Open in Auckland to equal Roy Emerson's record. For a third successive year Ferrer heads to the Australian Open in title-winning form after he defeated second seed Philipp Kohlschreiber 7-6(5) 6-1 on Saturday.

There was British success in Auckland as Colin Fleming claimed the doubles title with new partner Bruno Soares. Fleming, whose regular partner Ross Hutchins is undergoing treatment for cancer, narrowly beat Johan Brunstrom and Freddie Nielsen 7-6(1) 7-6(2).

There were plenty of reasons for home fans to be optimistic ahead of next week's Australian Open after Lleyton Hewitt rolled back the years to beat Juan Martin Del Potro 6-1 6-4 in the final of the Kooyong Classic exhibition event in Melbourne.

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