Gael Monfils resisted a second-set fightback from Stan Wawrinka to win the Rotterdam Open 6-3, 1-6, 6-2 on Saturday, lifting his first title since January 2018.
Frenchman Monfils started quickly to take a comfortable lead but was pegged back by three-time Grand Slam champion Wawrinka, who was appearing in his first final since undergoing ankle surgery in 2017.
But the unseeded world No. 33 was clinical on his serve in the third-set decider as he closed out his eighth ATP career win.
Monfils, who reached the Sofia Open semifinals last week, credited his practice partner Wawrinka for his resurgence, having lost just twice in 11 matches this season.
"You know this win is part of him," said Monfils, who last won an ATP title at the 2018 Qatar Open.
"We've been practising a lot, we've been talking a lot... Sorry I beat you in the final. I hope we can have many more battles."
Monfils established his lead by breaking his opponent early in the opening set. After Wawrinka held his opening service game, Monfils converted his first break point in the third game of the set to edge in front.
Wawrinka responded well after going behind and raced to a 40-15 lead on Monfils' serve in the opening game of the set. Monfils saved the first two break points and had to save a further two before Wawrinka eventually broke on his fifth break point of the game.
The Swiss then built up a 4-0 lead before he broke Monfils for the third time to win the set 6-1 in just 34 minutes and set up the decider.
Monfils progressed to the final by beating No. 8 seed David Goffin, Italian Andreas Seppi and Bosnian Damir Dzumhur before defeating No. 8 seed Daniil Medvedev in the semifinals.
Meanwhile, the tournament represents progress for Wawrinka, who was appearing in his first final since he was beaten by Rafael Nadal in the final of the French Open in June 2017.
The No. 68-ranked Wawrinka, a former world No. 3 who entered as a wild card, defeated Benoit Paire, Milos Raonic, Denis Shapovalov and Kei Nishikori during his run to the final.
