By Chris Oddo | Sunday February 14, 2016

Martin Klizan rallied from a set down to earn his first career 500-level title in Rotterdam, pushing past Gael Monfils, 6-7(1), 6-3, 6-1.

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The victory caps a wild week for the Slovakian. He saved five match points in the quarterfinals to defeat Roberto Bautista Agut, and another three in Saturday’s semifinal against Nicolas Mahut.

“I will never forget this moment,” the emotional 26-year-old told the crowd after the final. He also thanked Monfils, calling him his good friend, and wished him well for the rest of the season.

Klizan improves to 4-0 lifetime in finals while Monfils drops to 5-18.

After dropping the first set in a tiebreaker (the players combined to save all nine break points they faced in the opener), Klizan took control from 3-3 in set two. He won eight games on the trot until he was broken in the final set with a 5-0 lead. It was the only break Klizan surrendered over the course of the two-hour final.

Klizan started the season with an 0-3 record but has since improved to 8-4.