California, 26 October 2010 | Tennis Australia

Marinko Matosevic has beaten American Ryan Sweeting to win the $50,000 Calabasas Challenger, helping him to rocket up to a career high ranking of 134.

The Australian fought back from a set down in the title match to down the second-seeded Sweeting 2-6 6-4 6-3.

For his efforts, Matosevic collected a cheque for USD$7,200 and a swag of rankings points to jump 23 spots up the world rankings.

Matosevic is now the second highest-ranked Australian male player behind Lleyton Hewitt, who is currently ranked world No.54.

He beat defending champion Donald Young for the fourth time this year in the semifinals of the hardcourt event.

“The first time we played at Indian Wells in qualifying I had no right to win,” Matosevic said after securing his place in the final.

“I had played a marathon match the day before that lasted three and a half hours. I had no right to beat him the first time and it was a third-set tiebreaker and I saved five match points.”

Matosevic lost in the second round in Calabasas last year and had never played Sweeting prior to Sunday’s final.