Richard Gasquet underlined his emergence as a genuine threat for Wimbledon over the next fortnight by claiming his first tour title on his 19th birthday in Nottingham.

Gasquet swept past experienced Belarusian Max Mirnyi 6-2 6-3 to win the 10tele.com Open and seal a superb grass-court fortnight, having also reached the quarter-finals at Queen's Club last week.

The new champion admitted: "If you had told me at the start of this year that I would win my first tournament on grass I would not have expected it.

"It is great for me to prove I can play on the surface and now I believe I can go a long way at Wimbledon next week."

Gasquet starts against German Philipp Kohlschreiber at the All England Club and could meet teenage rival Rafael Nadal in the third round.

He will head south with his confidence visibly soaring after completing a one-sided success against Mirnyi, who has previously reached the Wimbledon fourth round.

Mirnyi's challenge was not helped by a cut finger he received opening a can of balls on the practice court this morning and which required an injury time-out between sets.

The injury problem was evident as early as his first service game when two double faults handed the initiative straight to Gasquet.

And with the Frenchman looking imperious on his own serve and thrilling the crowd with his shot-making, it was an advantage the youngster never looked likely to lose.

Having broken Mirnyi for a second time to take the set, Gasquet forced home his advantage in the second set and broke in the fourth game after another Mirnyi double-fault had provided the chance.

Gasquet rounded off his fine victory and was then presented with a birthday cake and regaled with a chorus of 'Happy Birthday' by Mirnyi during the trophy ceremony.

But Gasquet added: "I will not be celebrating my birthday until I have left Wimbledon and and am back in Paris.

"I might do something in London tonight but it will not be a late one, maybe one o'clock."

Victory could provide a benchmark for Gasquet's career as he begins to fulfil the enormous promise he showed when first bursting onto the main tour aged 15.

This year he has stepped up a level, even beating world number one Roger Federer on the Monte Carlo clay.

Gasquet added: "It was great beating Federer but this was a final and it is historic so it means even more to me."

Doubles specialist Mirnyi refused to blame his injury for the defeat admitting: "Richard has played a good match and he deserved to win today.

"My injury was just another of those obstacles which are put in your way sometimes and which you have got to try to overcome."