Monfils edges Karlovic to capture 1st title in 2.5 years

WASHINGTON - Gael Monfils won his first title in 2 1/2 years, erasing a match point and breaking Ivo Karlovic twice in the span of four service games Sunday during a 5-7, 7-6 (6), 6-4 victory in the Citi Open final.

Monfils, a Frenchman seeded No. 2, prevented the 37-year-old Karlovic from becoming the oldest man since 1973 to win ATP singles tournaments in consecutive weeks.

And Monfils did it by figuring out a way to neutralize the big serve of the 6-foot-11 Karlovic when it mattered most.

The 13th-seeded Croatian had won all 53 of his service games in the tournament until getting broken while serving for the championship at 5-4 in the second set.

Daniel Nestor and Edouard Roger-Vasselin won the men's doubles title, beating Lukasz Kobot and Alexander Peya 7-6 (3), 7-6 (4).