David Nalbandian has underlined his Australian Open title credentials with a fighting three-set win over Jarkko Nieminen in the Sydney International final.
The fourth-seeded Argentine won 6-3 6-7 (9-11) 6-2 in two hours and 16 minutes at Sydney Olympic Park.
A four-time quarter-finalist at Melbourne Park, Nalbandian will begin his 2009 Open campaign against Frenchman Marc Gicquel on Tuesday.
