Qualifier Kei Nishikori became the first Japanese man to win an ATP title in 16 years by upsetting top-seeded James Blake 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 in an international tennis tournament final in Florida on Feb. 17.

Kei Nishikori AP PHOTO

"I can't believe that I beat James Blake," 18-year-old Nishikori told the crowd, which included Japanese fans chanting "Nippon! Nippon!" in the stands. "I've only seen him on TV. This is my best tournament ever."

With the win, the 244th-ranked Nishikori is expected to move to a No. 122 ranking after beating Blake, who is ranked No. 14. He is the youngest player to win an ATP title since Lleyton Hewitt won Adelaide as a 16-year-old in 1998.

Shuzuo Matsuoka was the last tournament champion from Japan after he won his lone career title in Seoul in 1992.