Raonic beats Sousa to win St. Petersburg Open for first title in over a year

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia — Canada’s Milos Raonic won the St. Petersburg Open on Sunday with a gruelling three-set victory over Joao Sousa in the final.

Raonic, from Thornhill, Ont., held off stern pressure from Sousa to wrap up a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 win after having been broken in the second set for the first time in the tournament.

Raonic’s first title since the Washington Open in August 2014 strengthens his slim hopes of reaching the ATP Finals. He is now No. 9-ranked but is well behind the top eight in the year-to-date ranking used to determine tour finals qualification.

Sousa drops to 1-5 in career ATP finals.

Earlier Sunday, Treat Huey of the Philippines and Henri Kontinen of Finland won the St. Petersburg doubles title.

The Associated Press