Monday, July 31 2006 16:15 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Los Angeles: Germany's Tommy Haas rallied to defeat eighth seed Dmitry Tursunov 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 in Sunday's final and clinch his second title in three years at the Los Angeles ATP tournament.

Haas broke Tursunov's serve two times and blasted 12 aces to the Russian's 10 in the two hour, four minute match in front of a crowd of 3,500 at the University of California Los Angeles main stadium.

The 2000 Sydney Olympics silver medallist also captured his third title of 2006.

"This is an awesome feeling and the end of a great week for me," said the 28-year-old Haas, who won his 10th career singles title in his 11-year ATP career.

"This is the second time I have won a tournament twice. I won again in Memphis this year," he said.

The 23-year-old Tursunov is also playing some of the best tennis of his career.

This was his first ATP final and while he may have missed out on an opportunity to win a crown he couldn't have been happier with his play this week.

"I am going to get wasted," Tursunov joked after the match.

Tursunov came out with more fire, winning the first set on the strength of his powerful serve and laser-like forehand.

But Haas seized control of match when he broke Tursunov's serve two consecutive times late in the second and early in the third set to take a 2-0 lead.

"At the end of the second set he (Tursunov) was going for it a little more maybe thinking this would be his first title," Haas said.

"I kept telling myself to hold my serve and wait for opportunities," he said.

"After I won the second set I had the momentum going into the third set," he said.

Haas has won all three career meetings against Tursunov, beating him the first time in Houston two years ago 6-2, 6-0 and in Memphis earlier this year 6-7 (7/9), 6-4, 6-4.

Tursunov beat third seed Fernando Gonzalez 6-4, 6-2 in Friday's semi-finals while Haas defeated Slovakia's Dominik Hrbaty 6-2, 7-5 to reach his 18th career final.

"I lost three times to Gonzalez and beat him the fourth time so it will be the same for Tommy. I lost three times to him so I will beat him the fourth time," Tursunov said.

Haas shot back, "We will see about the fourth time."

On a more serious note, Haas dedicated his victory to his former coach, travelling companion and hitting partner Colombian Raul Ordonez. Ordonez is suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis which is also called Lou Gehrig's disease.

"I dedicated this win to him. He is fighting for his life," Haas said.

In May 2002, Haas reached No 2 in the world rankings but then a shoulder problem surfaced and he missed the entire 2003 season after undergoing surgery.

But lately the injuries appear to have cleared up and coach Thomas Hogstedt has Haas in top form.

"After the second surgery I treated it like my first career was over and this is my second one," Haas said.

"If I said I didn't have a lot of confidence now I would be lying," he said.

He won two earlier tournaments in 2006 in Memphis and Delray Beach but his best year was 2001 when he won four singles crowns.

Haas is thrilled to join another pair of great Germans on the Los Angeles' wall of fame. Boris Becker won here in 1994 and Michael Stich the following year.

"Having my name up there with Becker and Stich is awesome," Haas said.

"I don't know how many times Boris played here but having won more times than him is great," he said.

Tursunov credits his strong 2006 to good heath and better conditioning.

Tursunov has a record of 29-21 this year and has won eight of his last 11 matches. Tursunov said he wanted to make sure he stayed calm going into his first ATP final. "I am glad I didn't come out and need diapers," Tursunov said.

"In this match he just served well and didn't give me a chance to break him after the first set," he said.