Top seed Stan Wawrinka defended his Geneva claycourt title on Saturday, rallying for a set down to see off German outsider Mischa Zverev 4-6 6-3 6-3.
The Swiss player’s first trophy of the season gives the 32-year-old World No 3 a boost ahead of the French Open – which he won in 2015 – and where he opens against Slovak Jozef Kovalik on Monday.
“I’m extremely happy to win my second title in Switzerland. It means a lot to me. This is the first time that my daughter is in the stadium when I win the title, and that makes it even more special,” said Wawrinka.
After losing the first set to qualifier Zverev – the older brother of Alexander Zverev who stunned Novak Djokovic in the Rome Masters final – three-time Grand Slam winner Wawrinka needed two hours and 20 minutes to seal victory.
“The level was great today, I think it was a great final. Mischa was playing very well, and maybe I was hesitating a bit in the beginning,” said the Swiss player.
“I’m happy that I came back strongly in the second set and managed to turn the match around.”
Zverev, 29, had been bidding for his maiden tour title in the 33rd-ranked player’s first final appearance in seven years.
“It was a great week for me here in Geneva,” said Zverev.
“Playing on clay is usually not easy for me, but I really felt great here and reaching my first semi-final and final on this surface.”