NICE, France (AP)—Richard Gasquet of France edged Fernando Verdasco of Spain 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (5) Saturday in the final of the Nice Open for his sixth career title and first since 2007.
Aiming for his second title on home soil, Gasquet trailed 4-1 in the third set and asked the trainer twice to massage his legs.
The unseeded Gasquet broke to trail 4-3 on a wide backhand from the second-seeded Verdasco.
In the next game, just after Gasquet had a double-fault, Verdasco antagonized the booing French by raising his arms in the air as if asking for more jeers. Verdasco broke Gasquet for 5-3 but failed to serve out the match. Gasquet finally overtook Verdasco in the tiebreaker.
A former top-10 player, the 68th-ranked Gasquet was looking to get back to his best form after he was suspended last year for testing positive for cocaine.
Verdasco was trying to win his sixth career title and third this year.
In the French Open, Gasquet will meet Andy Murray in the first round.