Fifth-seeded Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu rallied from a set down to defeat Italian Andreas Seppi 6-7 (1-7) 6-4 7-5 to win the Allainz Suisse Open on Sunday.

The 25-year-old Mathieu benefited from eight aces to follow countryman Richard Gasquet's lead and become the second Frenchman in as many years to claim the clay court title.

Mathieu, who won at Casablanca earlier this year for his first career title, has won all three career meetings against Seppi.

This one, however, might have had a different ending had Seppi not been overcome by nerves.

Seppi served for the match at 5-3 in the third set after breaking the Mathieu serve in the eighth game. But the Italian handed Mathieu three break points before double-faulting, and also dropped his following service game.

Mathieu then served out the match after fending off one break point to capture his second title of the year.

"Even if I was very tired, I was fighting until the end and it's a great feeling to win this tournament," Mathieu said.

"I got off to a good start as he was a bit nervous but then he really got into the match and started playing very well, taking advantage of his opportunities.

"Today I really had to give everything.

After losing the first set, I told myself that the match only started at that point and I tried to start over again, forgetting about the score and the heat."

Ranked 28th in the world, Mathieu was the only seed to have reached the last four.

Seppi, ranked 111th in the world, reached his first career final by emerging with a 6-4 3-6 7-6 (7-5) victory over Russian Igor Andreev.

"Maybe I was a bit nervous playing in my first final and serving for the match," Seppi said.

"I also think that Paul-Henri played very aggressively and solid during that game. At the end, both of us could have won and I got pretty close."