David Ferrer strengthened his hand in the race to the ATP season finals as the veteran Spaniard won the Austrian Open with a fighting 4-6, 6-4, 7-5 defeat of American Steve Johnson on Sunday.

Ferrer, who joins Roger Federer on five titles this year -- the pair are second behind Novak Djokovic on nine -- now stands in solid contention for one of the two remaining places in the eight-man field for the World Tour Finals starting November 15.

Ferrer joins Kei Nishikori in joint seventh in the race for the eight-man World Tour Finals in London from November 15-22.

Ferrer claimed the 26th trophy of his career as he defeated Johnson, who was playing in his first final.

The 33-year-old Spanish champion set up three match points in the third set with his seventh ace after a break in the previous game and converted on his first opportunity.

Ferrer lost the final a year ago at the Stadthalle to Andy Murray. The last Spaniard to win in Vienna was Feliciano Lopez in 2004.

Source: AFP