Injured Gasquet beats Verdasco in epic

RICHARD Gasquet won his first tournament since 2007 in an epic encounter with Fernando Verdasco, the Frenchman battling back from a break down in the final set and overcoming a thigh injury to win 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (5).

Gasquet, who plays Andy Murray in the first round of the French Open, took the first set 6-3 and looked booked for the title when serving for the match at 5-4 in the second. However, Verdasco broke to love before taking the set 7-5 with a further break.

The Spaniard broke at the start of the third set and, at 3-0 down, Gasquet took a medical time-out to treat a thigh injury. In obvious discomfort, Gasquet battled on and broke Verdasco when serving for the match to set-up a tense tie-break, which Gasquet won 7-5. It's the former world No.7's first title since winning in Mumbai in 2007.

On the women's side, Maria Sharapova won the Strasbourg event with a 7-5, 6-1 win over Kristina Barrois.