Berdych's Montpellier joy
02/05/2012 11:37:06 PM
Tomas Berdych claimed his seventh career title with victory over Gael Monfils in the final of the Open Sud de France in Montpellier.
The top-seeded Czech proved too strong for local hope Monfils, winning 6-2 4-6 6-3 in two hours and five minutes on Sunday.
"It was a great three sets, it was very close and I'm happy I was able to do it," Berdych told French TV channel Canal Plus Sport.
"He is a great player, he knows how to fight on court, but I knew that and I was ready for it."
Berdych broke twice in the opening set before the Frenchman hit back in the second set to level the clash and send it into a deciding set.
Games went on serve in the third set until Monfils threw in his sixth double fault to hand Berdych a 5-3 advantage.
The world No.7 served out the match to beat Monfils, who was the defending champion at the tournament, for the second time.
"I tried to return his serves better, to be more aggressive but it is not easy when he steps on to the court," he said.
It was Berdych's first indoor title since lifting the BNP Paribas Masters trophy in 2005.
Monfils fell to 4-13 in title matches this year, losing his second final of the season after finishing runner-up to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga at the Qatar Open in Doha.