Flying Finn Nieminen outlasts Bellucci

STOCKHOLM: Jarkko Nieminen began his ninth straight appearance at the Stockholm Open with a testing victory on Wednesday, battling into the second round over young Brazilian Tomaz Bellucci 6-7 (5/7), 6-3, 7-5.

The flying Finn ranked 33rd in the world has twice gone to the final at the Kungligahallen at a tournament the man from across the Baltic considers his home event.

But the 27-year-old is keen finally to snaffle the title after flirting with the trophy in 2001 and 2006 when he lost to Sjeng Schalken and James Blake respectively.