Czech mate

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

MONTPELLIER, France -- Tomas Berdych won his seventh career title by defeating defending champion Gael Monfils 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 in the Open Sud de France final on Sunday.

The top-seeded Czech broke for a 5-3 lead in the final set on a double fault from Monfils, clinching victory with his 12th ace.

Berdych relied on a strong serve and deep ground strokes to go a set up but made several unforced errors to drop the second set.

Berdych had won their only previous meeting four years ago in Dubai.

The 2010 Wimbledon finalist broke Monfils for a 2-0 lead when the Frenchman sent a backhand long. Berdych then saved three break points to hold serve before hitting two consecutive return winners to take the first set.

In the second set, Berdych double-faulted to give Monfils a break chance that the Frenchman converted for a 3-2 lead when the Czech's backhand volley sailed long.

Monfils erased three break points at 4-3 and levelled at one set each on a forehand error from Berdych.