Melzer beats Cilic to take Vienna title

Jurgen Melzer defeated top-seeded Marin Cilic 6-4, 6-3 to win the Bank Austria Tennis Trophy on Sunday. It was the Austrian's second ATP title after winning in Bucharest in 2006. He is now 2-6 in finals. The 35th-ranked Melzer, seeded seventh, saved five break points to hold serve throughout and broke Cilic three times. "I can't find the right words to describe my emotions," Melzer said, who has become only the second Austrian winner in the 35-year history of the event after Horst Skoff in 1988. "I am over the moon. I am very proud to win here," said the 28-year-old Austrian, who suffered pain all week after treatment for a heel injury Monday. He has pulled out of the Swiss Indoors in Basel next week to recover fully. Melzer beat the world's No. 13, Cilic, and also 14, Radek Stepanek, in straight sets en route to the title. "If I get a good start into next season, I can get into the top 20," said Melzer, who was ranked a career high 26th earlier this year and is now expected to get back into the top 30. Cilic, who is now 2-2 in finals this season, entered the tournament on a wild card after U.S. Open champion Juan Martin del Potro withdrew with a wrist injury. The Croat is still an outside contender for one of the two open spots at the season-ending ATP World Tour Finals in London later this month. "I've been pleased with my game all week," Cilic said. "Jurgen started to play very well after the first couple of games so obviously he deserved to win." Cilic looked in control early on. He won seven straight points from the start of the match, but missed three break chances in the second game. Melzer did not score a point in the Croat's first three service games but broke him at 3-3. The Austrian saved two break points while serving for the set at 5-4 before Cilic netted a forehand return on set point. Melzer served flawlessly in the second set, while Cilic missed more forehands from the baseline. He saved two match points before hitting a backhand wide to end the contest. Later Sunday, Melzer also played in the doubles final. He and Julian Knowle missed two match points before losing 2-6, 6-4, 11-9 to Lukasz Kubot and Oliver Marach.