BASTAD, Sweden (AP) Benoit Paire of France won his first ATP title on Sunday after beating Spain's Tommy Robredo 7-6 (9-7), 6-3, in the men's final at the Swedish Open.
He beat the favorite, two-time champion after first saving two set points in the first set tiebreak, which he eventually won in 56 minutes on a cool, blustery day.
The Frenchman broke Robredo's serve to lead 4-2 in the second, and after winning the next two games he secured his maiden title at Bastad.
''I wanted to try to play my game all the time. I said, it's windy today but I have to stay focused and to be aggressive like I was during all the tournament,'' he said in an interview with organizers. ''That's why I think I won today ... I wanted (the title) a lot.''
Paire reached the final after beating defending champion, Pablo Cuevas, 6-4, 6-3, in 69 minutes on Saturday.
In the other semifinal, the 33-year-old Spaniard beat 18-year-old German Alexander Zverev 6-3, 6-4, and was looking for his third victory on his 15th appearance at Bastad, after winning in 2006 and 2008.
Paire, who was the first Frenchman to win the title since 1981, earned 80,000 euros and 250 Emirates ATP rankings points, while Robredo's cache was 42,100 euros and 150 rankings points.
Both players said they would return to Bastad.
Paire earned ?80,000 and 250 Emirates ATP Rankings points.