Gilles Simon clinched the ATP Open 13 crown for a second time with a battling 6-4 1-6 7-6 (7-4) victory over Gael Monfils in the final on Sunday.

The world number 17 tasted victory in this ATP 250 hard-court event back in 2007, when he defeated Marcos Baghdatis in straight sets.

He was made to work a little harder by compatriot Monfils in Marseille, however, as the pair contested an all-French affair.

After taking the first set, Simon was blown away by Monfils in the second, but recovered his poise to take the decider in a tie-breaker.

The pair exchanged breaks in the early stages of the opening set, before Simon took game 10 against Monfils' serve to edge himself in front.

Monfils' response was swift, as he broke his opponent three times in the second set, reeling off six successive games to force a final set.

Simon started the decider brightly with a break to take the lead at 1-0, but gave up that advantage as Monfils hit back for 2-2.

The remainder of the set went with the serve as a tie-break was needed to decide the victor and it was Simon who kept his cool to close out his 12th Tour title, and first for 18 months.