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Bublik was the defending champion in Kitzbuhel, but he was no match for Halys's huge serves, with the Frenchman coming out on top with a 6-4 7-6 (8-6) victory.

Halys laid the foundations for his one-hour-and-34-minute triumph in the opening set of the match, flinging four blistering aces past Bublik to immediately stamp his authority.

As the encounter entered the fourth game, Halys had two opportunities to break his opponent, but Bublik was able to hold on and threatened to take the set the distance.

However, Halys was able to get the better of Bublik's serve at the second time of asking in the 10th game, and the pair continued to trade blows in the next set.

There were just two break opportunities in the second, both of which were for Halys, with a tie-break needed to see whether the match would continue or come to an end.

Halys would end 14 years of waiting for his first title when Bublik's attempted drop shot hit the net, with the newly-crowned champion dropping his racquet in celebration.

Halys became the first French male player to win the Austrian Open in the Open Era, ending two years of heartbreak for his nation in the Austria showpiece, with Hugo Gaston and Arthur Cazaux both losing the final in the previous two years.