Troicki beats Kukushkin in 1st ATP final with 2 qualifiers

SYDNEY (AP) Viktor Troicki of Serbia beat Kazakhstan's Mikhail Kukushkin 6-2, 6-3 Saturday to win the Sydney International title in the first ATP final between two qualifiers.

Troicki, once 12th in the world rankings, sank to 847th following a 12-month doping ban for failing to take a blood test during the Monte Carlo Masters in 2013.

He could move up to as high as 70th when new rankings are released on Monday.

Troicki, who started and finished the match with an ace, will play his first-round match at the Australian Open against another victorious weekend qualifier, Jiri Vesely.

Vesely, of the Czech Republic, won the Heineken Open in Auckland, New Zealand, on Saturday.