Ivan Ljubicic is hoping Sunday's victory in Metz will be the catalyst for more success over the remainder of the season.

After four barren years, third-seeded Ljubicic finally got his hands on a title after claiming a 7-6 (9/7) 6-0 victory over teenage Frenchman Gael Monfils, the sixth seed, to win the Open de Moselle hardcourt tournament.

That was only Ljubicic's second ATP Tour title success and first since he won in Lyon in 2001, and the 26-year-old hopes he does not have to wait so long to taste victory again.

"It feels great to win a title here. I played in five finals this year but I feel really great here in France," Ljubicic said.

"I won in Lyon in 2001, reached the final in Marseille this year. There are a few more tournaments to come in France and hopefully I can do good there."

Monfils broke Ljubicic in the first game of the match but gave the advantage right back as he was unable to hold his own serve.

Ljubicic prevailed in the tie-break and broke Monfils in the first game of the second set on his way to a one hour and 29 minute victory.

"It was a nervous start for me. For the first time this week, I lost my serve in the opening game," Ljubicic said.

"I felt I was the favourite and I had to win. As I said, this first set was really nervous, it wasn't good tennis, it was really demanding physically. After that first set, I felt my energy coming back, I was more relaxed and moving much better.

"I served unbelievably well this entire week, I even tried to push it a little harder sometimes on the second serves and it was working really well."

A quarter-finalist here last year when he made his ATP debut, Monfils admitted to a second-set letdown after dropping the tie-break.

"I gave everything I had in the first set," Monfils said.

"Physically I was tired and I think he knew as well. He made me run a lot. Losing the first set hurt me mentally. Everything went really fast at the beginning of the second set, and as I said I was physically not at my best and there wasn't much I could do.

"This was a great week for me. I came here not winning many matches, so my confidence wasn't that great. Reaching a final here in France is definitely a great thing for me."

Monfils, who won his first career ATP title on clay in Sopot, Poland, in August, was appearing in just his second career final.