Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut claimed his second title of the season with a 6-3 6-4 victory over second seed Lucas Pouille in the final of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
Third seed Bautista Agut, who won the Auckland Classic title in January, broke in the fourth game before seeing out the first set.
And the 29-year-old, who dropped just one set on his way to the final, maintained his momentum in the second to outclass Pouille and secure his eighth career title.
It was his first ATP World Tour 500 event, denying Pouille a place in the world’s top 10 for the first time in the process.
“This tournament is very special. It is for sure going to be (always) in my heart and I am so happy I have won a 500 event,” Bautista Agut said.
“Lucas is a really great player, he has a great future and is playing unbelievable tennis in the last month. I want to wish him good luck for the rest of the season.”
Bautista Agut is expected to climb to world number 16 when the updated rankings are released on Monday.