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Frenchman Richard Gasquet successfully defended his title in Nottingham as the 20-year-old dismissed Swede veteran Jonas Bjorkman 6-3, 6-4 in the final of the Red Letter Days Open on Saturday.

Frenchman Richard Gasquet successfully defended his title in Nottingham as the 20-year-old dismissed Swede veteran Jonas Bjorkman 6-3, 6-4 in the final of the Red Letter Days Open on Saturday.

Gasquet, who turned 20 last Sunday, was playing in his first final since winning the title in his Nottingham debut last year (d. Mirnyi). With the win, Gasquet became the first player to capture the Nottingham title two years in a row.

Gasquet won't have much time to celebrate his victory as he faces a tough challenger against three-time Wimbledon champion Roger Federer in the opening round of the grass court Grand Slam.

The Frenchman, who was having a disappointing season prior to this week, improved to 12-13 in 2006. Last season, the French sensation who started the year ranked outside of the Top 100, reached a career-high No.12 in September. He would then play one more tournament in Metz before having to sit out for the rest of the season due to an elbow injury. Gasquet is one of only three players to have defeated World No.1 Roger Federer in the past two years. (Rafael Nadal and David Nalbandian are the other two).

En route to the title, Gasquet defeated qualifier Ivan Navarro Pastor of Spain, Italian Daniele Bracciali, countryman Gilles Simon, Swedes Robin Soderling and Jonas Bjorkman.

The 34-year-old Bjorkman was playing in his first final since capturing the Ho Chi Minh City crown in October last year (d. Stepanek). The 1998 and 2002 champion has a record of 6-11 in ATP finals.

Source: ATP web site