WASHINGTON DC, United States (AFP) — France’s Gael Monfils saved a match point and battled back to capture his sixth career ATP title, defeating Ivo Karlovic 5-7, 7-6 (8/6), 6-4 in yesterday’s Washington Open final.

The 29-year-old Frenchman, who had not won a crown since 2014 at Montpellier, took his first ATP title outside of Europe and his first outdoor trophy since Sopot in 2005, as well as claiming the top prize of $348,200 (317,266 euro) on the US capital hardcourts.

Monfils withstood a barrage of 27 aces from the 37-year-old Croatian, firing back 16 of his own. He ended Karlovic’s streak of 70 unbroken service games when the Croatian served for the match in the 10th game of the second set.

Flamboyant Monfils denied Karlovic on a match point in the second-set tie breaker as well, broke him again in the third game of the final set and held from there to win in two hours and 13 minutes.

Monfils became the third French player to win the Washington crown after Yannick Noah in 1985 and Arnaud Clement in 2006.

“This tournament means a lot to me,” said Monfils. “When I first came here I saw the (champion) names — Arthur Ashe, Yannick Noah — and they have been inspirations for me. I’m very proud and very happy to have my name next to them.”

Monfils improved to 6-19 in ATP finals, including a 2011 Washington final loss to Radek Stepanek. Monfils had dropped his prior three finals in a row, including in February at Rotterdam and April at Monte Carlo, and eight of his past nine finals since 2011.

Karlovic, who fell to 7-9 in ATP finals, won his seventh career title last week on Newport grass to become the oldest tour singles champion since 1979.

“Congratulations to Gael,” Karlovic said. “Well done.”