Russian Nikolay Davydenko clinched his first title of the season on Sunday when he crushed Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu 6-4, 6-2 to win the German Open.
Second seed and world number 12 Davydenko, who played a near faultless final, dropped only one set on his way to the title, and can now expect to move back into the top ten after dropping out in April for the first time since May 2005.
Mathieu, 27, initially looked to have got the better of Davydenko when he broke to go 3-1 up in the first set.
But the gritty Russian, who frustrated Mathieu with some fierce service returns, immediately raced back to win four straight games to lead 5-3.
World number 39 Mathieu, also playing his first final of the season, held serve before his opponent served out the set a game later.
Davydenko, 28, who has won at least one tournament a year since 2003 but was forced to miss two months this season due to a heel injury, was far more consistent than Mathieu, landing a staggering 78 percent of his first serves.
He kept up the pressure in the second set, quickly breaking Mathieu twice to lead 4-1 with some stinging baseline play.
The pair then traded breaks before Davydenko sealed victory with another faultless service game only after 88 minutes.
