LYON, France (AFP) - Sweden's Robin Soderling claimed his first ATP title with a three sets win over Belgian Xavier Malisse at the 791,750-euro ATP tournament here.
The 20-year-old from Gothenburg clinched the title in his third final appearance 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 against Malisse who had also been bidding for his first career title in south eastern France.
"This is a great day for me," said Soderling. "I have dreamt of this for a long time.
"In the second set today, Malisse returned well and put me under pressure but I have been serving well all week and that allowed me to stay confident."
The towering Swede, a hardcourt specialist, got off to a flying start winning three games to love, conceding just two points on his serve before wrapping up the first set in 25 minutes.
A dip in form in the second set allowed Malisse back into the game and the Belgian raced to a 4-0 lead before taking the set 6-3.
But Soderling upped the momentum in the third and made a crucial break in the fifth game for 3-2 before claiming the title after 1hr 24min on court, to make up for his previous losses in Stockholm last year and Marseille in February.
It was a bitter blow for 24-year-old Malisse who suffered his sixth loss in a final, including two this year.
Soderling, 53rd ranked, beat Malisse, who is ranked one place above him in 52nd, in their only previous meeting in Scottsdale earlier this year.