Wawrinka edges Malisse to lift Chennai title

Third seed Stanislas Wawrinka edged out former champion Xavier Malisse 7-5 4-6 6-1 on Sunday to win the Chennai Open title that eluded him 12 months ago.

Beaten by Marin Cilic in last year's final, Switzerland's Wawrinka made amends by beating 2007 winner Malisse in two hours, 14 minutes for his first title of the year.

"It was really a tough match and I would say I was a bit lucky," Wawrinka said at the presentation ceremony. "It's really nice to be back here and win."

After breaking Malisse in the 12th game of the first set to take control, Wawrinka surrendered his serve in the third game of the second set to allow Malisse to level the match.

But Wawrinka dominated the decider, breaking his Belgian opponent in the second and sixth games before sealing victory with an easy smash.