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Croatian teenager Marin Cilic outlasted home favourite Mardy Fish 6-4 4-6 6-2 to seal a first career title at the ATP event in New Haven.

In a topsy-turvy match, the 19-year-old hit 11 aces and clinched victory after one hour and 54 minutes, thrusting his arms to the sky in jubilation of a landmark victory.

"I am feeling very excited," Cilic said.

"The match was a little bit thrilling, a lot of ups and downs from both of us, but eventually I got my thoughts back and my rhythm. I was really pumped up when I had to be and really enjoyed the moment in the end."

Cilic, who is set to rise from 31st to around 25th when the new world rankings are issued on Monday, said winning his first title at 19 meant he was on the right track.

"It just helps me not to have any doubts in what I do and how I'm practicing and how am I improving and evolving," he said.

"It brings me a little more self-belief, that I'm on the right way and that I just have to keep on going like this."

Fish had been hoping to use his greater experience to good effect against Cilic, who was appearing in his first final, but shot himself in the foot by dropping serve in the opening game to help settle any nerves the Croatian may have had.

Fish made no impression on the Croat's serve in the first set and Cilic held on comfortably, only to immediately drop his opening service game of the second set as Fish raced to a 3-0 advantage.

That lead became 5-2 but Fish then stumbled when serving for the set a game later, missing a set point and then dropping serve to let Cilic back in.

However, the world number 35 broke Cilic again to take the set and level the match.

The momentum was with the American, playing in his second final of the season, but he immediately handed Cilic the edge by dropping his serve in the first game of the decider.

Fish broke back immediately but Cilic broke yet again to lead 2-1 and repeated the feat in the seventh game before serving out for victory.

"I was all over the place with my arms," Cilic said of his celebrations. "I didn't really know what I was doing.

"I had a great week, won the last three, four matches like against good players. I'm feeling physically well. So I believe and hope that I can continue with this good form at the (U.S.) Open, and also to make some progress over there."

The defeat was Fish's ninth in his 11 finals and the 26-year-old was understandably frustrated to have let another chance slip by.

"I would have liked to have played better," a dejected Fish said.

"This is my eleventh final. I've only won twice. It's starting to really sting. I've got a lot of runner-up trophies in my office in my house."

Reuters