Younes El Aynaoui sent the home fans into raptures after defeating top seed and defending champion Guillermo Canas 3-6 6-3 6-2 to win the Grand Prix Hassan II in Casablanca.

El Aynaoui, playing in the tournament for the ninth time in his career, finally walked away victorious in front of a capacity crowd of 7,000.

He became only the second Moroccan to win in the tournament's 18-year history joining Hicham Arazi in the record books.

El Aynaoui said: "It's fantastic. Unfortunately, I lost the first set, but the public were brilliant and strengthened my belief in a victory."

Canas dominated play in the first set and continually worked most of the points to El Aynaoui's backhand and the strategy worked as the Argentinian finally broke in the eighth game and held serve to take the first set.

El Aynaoui got the break in the second and won the set in 50 minutes to level. The Moroccan came out firing in the third set and was able to break Canas twice before serving out to take the match.

He added: "After the first set, I had to change my tactics because Canas was too strong from the baseline.

"I had some success serving and volleying, which gave me confidence for the rest of the match."

Meanwhile, Myles Wakefield and Stephen Huss found immediate success as a new doubles team, winning the Casablanca title in their first outing together.

Wakefield, of South Africa, and Australian Huss defeated Argentine duo Luis Lobo and Martin Garcia 6-4 6-2.