James Blake won his second title this season with a defeat of 2002 champion Paradorn Srichaphan 6-1, 7-6 (8/6) at the €680 250 Stockholm Open to stretch a late-season surge of form.
The American, who missed much of last year through injury illness and the death of his father, added this title to the one at New Haven last August, continuing his career-long domination of Thailand’s Paradorn.
Blake (25), ranked 33rd, became the second American titleholder at the Kungligahallen in the past three editions and the third in a row from his county to contest for the Swedish honour.
Mardy Fish won the 2003 edition, and Andre Agassi lost the final a year ago to Thomas Johansson.
Blake got away strongly as he dominated the notoriously slow-starting Thai in a 22-minute opening set, and then withstood an hour of resistance before finally taking the third trophy of his career.
The victory came on Blake’s first appearance in Stockholm and put paid to his aversion to European indoor events.
Blake now stands 3-5 in finals as he played his third in the past two months. This week was the first time he had ever gone as far as a semifinal in Europe.
The American improved to 34-19 on the year and has now won 20 of his past 23 matches on the ATP.
His only three losses since the Washington final in August have come against former and current number-one players Andy Roddick, Roger Federer and Andre Agassi.
Paradorn has now lost five of six matches against Blake, with his only win coming in the Long Island final two years ago. — Sapa-AFP