Verkerk upsets Kafelnikov in Milan final

Milan: Martin Verkerk of the Netherlands served 30 aces on Sunday as he captured his first ATP career title, stunning fifth-seeded Russian Yevgeny Kafelnikov 6-4, 5-7, 7-5 in the $380,000 Milan Indoors tournament. Verkerk relied on his powerful serve, backhand passing shots and a few lapses of his opponent in key points to pocket the top prize of $52,000 and 50 points for the ATP Champions race. The unseeded Dutchman, ranked 90th in the ATP entry list, collapsed to the ground, overcome with emotion, after the Russian player netted a return, handing him the victory at IOL Arena. "This is a little bit of dream for me, winning a big event like Milan," he said of the win, decided by a single break in each set. Sunday's loss prevented Kafelnikov, a 1995 Milan champion, from clinching a would-be 27th career singles title on his first ATP final in four months. The No.1 player in the world in 1999, the Russian has won at least one ATP title a year since 1994. (AP)