Australian firebrand Tomic wins first title in three years

BEIJING, Oct 01 (AFP): Controversial Australian Bernard Tomic won his first tournament in three years on Sunday -- and in the most dramatic of circumstances, saving four match points to triumph at the Chengdu Open.

The 25-year-old defeated top seed Fabio Fognini of Italy 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 (9/7) in a thrilling three-setter in southwest China, where he was a qualifier.

Tomic sank to his knees in celebration, kissed the court and then looked up to the sky as he milked the moment.

Tomic's first ATP World Tour crown since Bogota in 2015 will propel the world-ranked 123 comfortably inside the top 100 and eyeing a spot at next year's Australian Open.