Doha - Richard Gasquet, the world number 10, raised hopes of a climb towards the top five during 2013 with a 4-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-3 victory over Nikolay Davydenko, the unseeded Russian, in Saturday's Qatar Open final.
Second seeded Gasquet had trailed by a set and a break of serve and appeared to be on the way to defeat when he trailed 4-2 in the second set.
But the Frenchman maintained a positive attitude and Davydenko, who took an injury time out for a hip problem in the final set, was denied a follow up to his earlier victories over David Ferrer, the top-seeded Spaniard, and Mikhail Youzhny, the fourth-seeded Russian.