Argentina's Agustin Calleri finally broke through for his first career title on Saturday night, holding off countryman Mariano Zabaleta to capture the Mexican Open.

Calleri posted a 7-5 3-6 6-3 victory in the final of the claycourt tournament, earning £33,000 for his first triumph since turning professional in 1995.

Before the final, the 26-year-old Argentine had not dropped a set to reach his second career final.

He knocked off third seed Gaston Gaudio in the second round, seventh seed Marcelo Rios in the quarter-finals and Felix Mantilla in the semi-finals.

Calleri, whose best previous result was a runner-up effort last year in Buenos Aires, has won two in a row against Zabaleta after losing their first meeting.

Playing his first ATP final in three years, Zabaleta could not notch his second career tournament victory.

He reached the final of three claycourt events in 1999, but his lone title came in 1998 at Bogota.