British number one Cameron Norrie ensured that lightning would not strike twice at the Lyon Open as he beat Slovakia's Alex Molcan in a three-set final.
Norrie lost in the showpiece event to Stefanos Tsitsipas in 2021 but was not to be denied this year, claiming a 6-3 6-7 [3-7] 6-1 victory for his first-ever title on clay.
The world number 11 stormed into a 4-1 lead early on following an error-strewn beginning from Molcan, who was searching for his maiden ATP title in Saturday's final.
Molcan needed a medical timeout after scraping his knee on the court and returned to earn one break back on Norrie, but the Brit comfortably took the first set.
Norrie was then presented with two championship points in the second set but failed to take either of them, as recent history repeated itself for the British number one.
Norrie was forced into a third-set decider during his battles with Sebastian Baez and Holger Rune earlier in the week after winning the first set, and it was no different in the final as Molcan kicked into gear.
However, Molcan could not keep up the intensity during the last knockings of the contest, and his race was run after hitting wide, with Norrie celebrating clinching the crown in front of a party atmosphere.
"It's my first one on the clay so it means a lot for me, I couldn't be happier with how I handled things this week, this one feels special. I'm speechless!" Norrie told Amazon Prime.
"I had chances to close the matches in straight sets and it didn't go my way but I was moving well in the third set. Alex played some good points and a very solid tie-break, but I'm so pleased to win the title."
Norrie now has four ATP singles titles to his name - adding to his Los Cabos and Indian Wells triumphs from 2021, as well as February's Delray Beach Open win - and the 26-year-old will now prepare for his French Open first-round battle with wildcard Manuel Guinard.
Ben Knapton
