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 The tough 29-year-old Serbian, who won the title as a qualifier last
year, looked dead and buried after Dimitrov coasted through the
first set but evened up the contest when the talented Bulgarian
suffered a second-set meltdown.
The crowd at Ken Rosewall Arena were then treated to top- quality
tennis during which both players had championship points before
Troicki kissed the line with an angled crosscourt winner to take the
third set tiebreak 9-7.
"What a match! We really fought until the end," Troicki, whose
victory extended his winning streak at Olympic Park to 12 matches,
said after the presentation ceremony.
"I guess I was just a bit more lucky at the end but this is the game
of tennis, sometimes you have luck and sometimes you don't."
Dimitrov showed off all his weapons in the absorbing two hour, 16
minute contest but will rue not making the most of his chances to
clinch his first title in 18 months.
Foremost among those was the net volley he had on championship point
in the tiebreak, which the 24-year-old only managed to flick into
the tape.
It was a second-set performance that was as disappointing as his
first set was impressive that his new coach Franco Davin will have
to ponder most, however.
The former Wimbledon semi-finalist served up three double faults to
lose his opening service game and then simply crumbled, the nadir
coming when he tried a between the legs trick shot and completely
fluffed it.
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"It's been a while since I was in a final, I'm pretty disappointed,"
said Dimitrov, before giving thanks to a stony-faced Davin.
Troicki, who has battled his way back up the rankings after serving
a one-year ban for missing a doping test, is a dangerous man to give
a break to and it is he who will now travel to Melbourne Park with
momentum.
The world number 22 plays Spain's Daniel Munoz De La Nava in the
Australian Open first round and Dimitrov faces Italy's Paolo
Lorenzi.
(Reporting by Nick Mulvenney, Editing by Ed Osmond)
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