Troicki beats Kukushkin at Sydney International in 1st ATP final between 2 qualifiers
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Viktor Troicki of Serbia beat Kazakhstan's Mikhail Kukushkin 6-2, 6-3 Saturday to win the Sydney International title in the first ATP final between two qualifiers.
Troicki, once 12th in the world rankings, sank to 847th following a 12-month doping ban for failing to take a blood test during the Monte Carlo Masters in 2013.
He could move up to as high as 70th when new rankings are released on Monday.
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Troicki, who started and finished the match with an ace, will play his first-round match at the Australian Open against another victorious weekend qualifier, Jiri Vesely.
Vesely, of the Czech Republic, won the Heineken Open in Auckland, New Zealand, on Saturday.