Gael Monfils Wins Open Sud de France Title

Gael Monfils lifted his third career title as he won the Open Sud de France by seeing off Ivan Ljubicic in three sets.

The Frenchman has been in two finals already this year but had failed to land a title but took the opening set against the fourth seed.

It was a wobbly start from Monfils as he was forced to save a break point early in the opening set but he held his nerve to keep the set on an even keel.

The first break of the set came in the fourth game as Monfils finally found a way through Ljubicic's defences to see the momentum swing in his favour.

Ljubicic could never get back on level terms and a second break for the Frenchman saw him take the opening set 6-2, much to the delight of the home crowd.

Into the second and an early break for Monfils saw him open up a 3-1 lead but the break didn't last long as two great winner from Ljubicic saw him break back immediately.

Ljubicic broke for a second time in the eleventh game to take a 6-5 lead, holding his serve in the next game to take the match into a deciding set.

But it didn't take Monfils long to pick himself up as he broke to lead 2-0 as the finish line came closer Monfils picked up the pace.

He broke again in the fourth game before closing out a great 6-2 5-7 6-1 win and lift his first title of the 2010 season.

Speaking to ATP after the match Monfils said: "I am so happy about this title, and it’s even more special because it is in France and in front of my crowd.

"Today I was again very solid I think in my game, but also emotionally. I am extremely happy about the title, about my concentration throughout the week and about the level of my game. I feel I have been working on many things on and off the court and the results are now showing.

"It was a fantastic event, I really enjoyed coming to Montpellier, I felt really comfortable over here from the first day. I really hope to be able to come back next year."

And the Frenchman is back in action this week at the Valencia Open as Andy Murray is looking to defend the title he won twelve months ago.

FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw