Houston - Ryan Sweeting held off Japan's Kei Nishikori 6-4 7-6 (3) on Sunday to win the US Men's Clay Court Championship for his first ATP World Tour title.
The American became the fifth first-time winner on the ATP tour this year and the first US Clay Court wild-card champion since Mardy Fish in 2006.
Sweeting fell to the court in jubilation and fatigue after the hard-fought second set and later took a cannon ball victory dive into the River Oaks Country Club pool.