Ivo Karlovic claimed his second title of the season after coming from a set behind to defeat Arnaud Clement 3-6 6-4 6-4 in the Nottingham Open final.

The big-serving Croatian took advantage of an increasingly weary-looking Clement to conclude his preparations for Wimbledon in style.

Number eight seed Clement began nervously and was taken to deuce in the opening game by the Croatian giant but it was he who gained the vital break of serve in the fourth game.

Having saved one break point with yet another unreachable serve, Karlovic, the last direct acceptance into the draw, skewed the simplest of backhand volleys into the net to give Clement a 3-1 advantage.

And the 29-year-old, who defeated the Croatian in the quarter-finals of Queen's last week, went on to serve out the remainder of the set.

But the world number 61, who won in Houston earlier this year, pulled level, breaking Clement's serve in the 12th game to take the second set 6-4.

The Frenchman came close to a break in the fifth game and rarely looked troubled on his own serve.

Only Karlovic's serve remained constant, with one ace in the seventh game recorded at 153mph in the seventh - just 2mph short of Andy Roddick's world record.

But that all changed in the 12th game. After saving three set points from 0-40 down, the world number 38 was beaten by Karlovic's passing shot to force a deciding set.

And it was he who prevailed 6-4. Having had previous chances to break in the fourth game, he took advantage of the tiring Clement to make the decisive break in the 10th game.

Having already saved two Championship points, the Frenchman was wrong-footed when his opponent's backhand ricocheted off the net cord and fired wide.

Karlovic said: "To tell the truth I didn't really expect to win. I came here to play a few matches, I was the last player in the draw.

"I was injured last year for six months and I did not really have very good preparations for this year but so far it is my best year."

He added: "In the first set I was a little bit nervous. I missed a few easy volleys but after that I was more relaxed and concentrated more and that was the only difference.

"I felt I was playing well the whole match and the whole week and somebody has to win."

Clement, who defeated the Croatian at Queen's only last week, admitted Karlovic represented a different proposition this time around.

He said: "I had a very good chance to break him in the second set. After that there was nothing especially wrong, he played better than last week for sure when I beat him at Queen's.

"He made more winners and was more dangerous on the baseline. He made a few good passing shots and I didn't serve like Friday. It's tough against him."