Andy Murray was pushed all the way by Philipp Kohlschreiber but came through to win his first clay-court title at the BMW Open in Munich.
The 27-year-old was forced to wait for his maiden clay crown after rain ended hopes of the final being concluded on Sunday and home favourite Kohlschreiber made sure it was not all easy-going for the world number three before Murray eventually recorded a 7-6 (7/4) 5-7 7-6 (7/4).
Resuming with Kohlschreiber, seeded fifth in Munich, holding a 3-2 lead Murray fought back to take the first set on a tie-break – wrapping up the set with a fine cross-court backhand.
But Kohlschreiber, a two-time winner of the BMW Open whose fifth and last tour title came almost 12 months ago on clay in Dusseldorf, fought back in the second, the 31-year-old drawing level with the top-seeded Murray.
Much like their meeting in the third round of last year’s French Open, this contest was to go the distance as the pair traded service games in the decider – resulting in a final-set tie-break and taking the game over the three-hour mark.
Murray, who married long-term girlfriend Kim Sears last month, eventually pulled away from Kohlschreiber and claimed his first clay-court title.