DELRAY BEACH, Fla. -- Xavier Malisse of Belgium won his first ATP Tour title Sunday with a 7-6 (6), 6-2 victory over Jiri Novak of the Czech Republic at the Millennium Tennis Championships.
The third-seeded Malisse came in with an 0-6 career record in finals, including runner-up finishes at Delray Beach in 1999 and 2001.
"It feels awesome," said Malisse, a Wimbledon semifinalist 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, who hadn't lost a set in four matches before the final, led the first set 5-2. But Malisse held to 5-3, then broke Novak when the Czech player served for the set.
"The first set was the key of the match," said Novak, who has won seven titles in 13 finals. "From the beginning I was better. I was leading 5-2 and I had the game under control. It was really hard conditions, it was really windy and I didn't hold my serve
when I had a chance to in the first set."
In the second set, Malisse broke for a 3-1 edge when Novak double-faulted.
Malisse won $52,000, Novak $30,600.
"I got away with the first set, that's for sure," Malisse
said.