Gael Monfils ruined Stan Wawrinka's chance to end a two-year title drought with a 6-3 1-6 6-2 victory in the final of the World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam.
Wawrinka, a three-time grand slam winner, has not won an event since claiming the Geneva title in 2017 after struggling with a career-threatening knee injury, which he has had multiple surgeries on.
"This is my first final since my surgery so it's always tough to lose in the final but hopefully me and my team can push this year to win a trophy," said the 33-year-old, who dispatched impressive teen Denis Shapovalov and world No.7 Kei Nishikori en route to the final on Sunday.
Monfils claimed the first break to lead his Swiss opponent 2-1 before holding serve to love with a thunderous forehand for a consolidation of a two-game gap.
A net error at 5-3 from Wawrinka as he stretched for a short ball allowed Monfils to take the first set after 36 minutes.
Wawrinka was first to break in the second set as he outmuscled Monfils in the rallies and sealed an early advantage with a vicious smash.
He broke again to earn a 4-0 cushion with an outrageous overhead volley, with his back turned, before forcing a deciding set.
"It was a good week for Stan and hopefully we can have many more battles," Monfils said.
The 32-year-old Frenchman broke twice in the final set to earn the eighth title of his career and his first tournament triumph since the Doha event in 2018.
