Monfils overcomes Wawrinka to lift Rotterdam title

France’s Gael Monfils overcame a determined Stan Wawrinka to win the Rotterdam Open 6-3 1-6 6-2 on Sunday, lifting his first title since January 2018.

In the first Rotterdam final between two unseeded players since 2008, Monfils raced past his Swiss opponent to convert two break points.

It put him on the way to sealing the opening set in 36 minutes.

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Three-times Grand Slam champion Wawrinka, who was playing his first final since undergoing two knee surgeries in 2017, fought back.

He clinched the second set but struggled to keep up with Monfils in longer rallies during the decider.

In spite of winning his opening game to love, Wawrinka was broken by Monfils in the third game.

The Frenchman also maintained his service rhythm to dictate play in the final set.

Monfils, the 2016 Rotterdam runner-up, converted another breakpoint to go 5-2 ahead before he served out the match for his eighth career ATP title.

World number 33 Monfils, who reached the Sofia Open semi-finals last week, credited his practice partner Wawrinka for his resurgence.

He had lost just twice in 11 matches this season.

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“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.”