Dutchman Martin Verkerk served 30 aces today as he captured his first ATP career title, stunning fifth-seeded Russian Yevgeny Kafelnikov in the $US380,000 ($A646,478) Milan Indoors tournament.

Verkerk relied on his powerful serve, on backhand passing shots and on a few lapses of his opponent in key points to take the match 6-4 5-7 7-5.

The unseeded Dutchman, ranked 90th in the ATP entry list, collapsed to the ground, overcome with emotion, after the Russian player netted a return, handing him the victory at IOL Arena.

"This is a little bit of dream for me, winning a big event like Milan," he said of the win, decided by a single break in each set.

"I beat good players this week, and a great player like Kafelnikov today. This win pays off for two years of hard work, and five hours of training a day."

Verkerk, who had won two ATP challenger titles in 2002, clinched the Milan championship after only eight months on the main draw.

He earned a year-end best No.86 in the ranking last year after reaching his first quarterfinal in Indianapolis.

Sunday's 30 aces improved his week total in Milan to 109, some on his second serve. He lost his serve only twice in the tournament.

Verkerk broke Kafelnikov in the seventh game of the first set taking advantage of some unforced errors of his opponent.

The 28-year-old Russian, coming off vein surgery in his left calf in December and an early elimination in the Australian Open last month, played some beautiful shots and a decisive volley to break Verkerk on 6-5 to win the second set.

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