Martin Verkerk claimed his maiden ATP tour title after beating Russian star Yevgeny Kafelnikov in the final of the Milan Indoors tournament.

Kafelnikov was seeking his 27th career title, and his first in over a year, but the 28-year-old was outlasted by Verkerk who won 6-4 5-7 7-5.

Verkerk said: "It's just a dream, I can't really express my feelings.

"This is what I've practiced and lived for. Suddenly (all the hard work) has paid off. When I served for the match at 6-5 I told myself 'This is the moment, you should take it now'.

"I've worked unbelievably hard the last two years, at the beginning of my career maybe I did not take it so seriously.

"I was enjoying life a little bit too much.

"I am 24 but really feel like 20, I'm a late bloomer.

"I have to thank my coach (New Zealand's Nick Carr) who believed in me when people were wondering whether I would make it.

"He thought I was not focused or professional enough and has made work harder and smarter."

Defeated, but thrilled to get as far as the final, Kafelnikov, who almost retired at the end of last season, was happy with his week's work.

"I'm slowly taking it step by step to try and come back to where I was," he said.

"The scenario in the whole match was any time I had a chance he came up with a big serve.

"Any time I faced a break point it felt like a match point because it was so hard to break him. I was under pressure all the time."