For Anthony Dupuis, life begins at 30.

The French player reached that age landmark last February, by which stage his appearances in finals on the ATP tour stood at one - Munich in 2001, where he lost to Jiri Novak.

But on Sunday in Milan, nine days before his 31st birthday, the 12-year professional won his first title on the main tour with a hard-fought three-set win over the big-serving Croatian Mario Ancic.

Dupuis triumphed 6-4 6-7(12/14) 7-6(7/5) in a match lasting two hours and 42 minutes, but he did his best to throw away victory.

In all, be blew nine match points, including seven in the second-set tie-break. At 6-2 up in the tie-break, victory should have been a formality, and yet Ancic somehow stayed alive in the match to force a deciding set.

By winning this tournament, Dupuis becomes the second French player to have returned from Milan victorious, 16 years after Yannick Noah won the 1988 title.

"I cannot describe in words how happy I feel," said Dupuis.

"To win an ATP title is such a big achievement for a tennis player.

"I am 30 years old and fitter than ever. This gives me the motivation to work even harder in the future."

Dupuis admitted that he had feared the worst when Ancic took the match to a third set.

"I had lost after having match points at the Australian Open and the challenger in Wroclaw, so obviously it was in the back of mind after I wasted the seven match points in the second set," he added.

But his experienced proved to be a telling factor, and Dupuis remained focused throughout the decider, with Ancic, playing his first ATP final, just coming up short.

Appreciative of his opponent's effort, Ancic said: "I have to give him credit.

"He played well and fully deserved to win.

"I played well too, had a few chances, but he was lucky with a couple of net cords on important points like the final set tie-break.

"I am pretty happy with my five matches this week, it was a good tournament for me, my first ATP final."