Like many proud parents, Ivan Ljubicic will tell you the birth of his first child, Leonardo, was the proudest moment of his life.

Yesterday in Lyon, Ljubicic's professional pride saw him produce his rebirth as a champion.

At an age when many of his contemporaries have already stepped off the ATP Tour into private life, the 30-year-old Croatian captured his first tournament title in two years, topping French wild card Michael Llodra, 7-5, 6-3.  Ljubicic claimed his ninth career title in became the third player over 30 to win a championship this year.

The title triumph carried plenty of personal significance for Ljubicic, who won his first career title at Lyon in 2001 and earned his first championship as a father eight years later. 

"It's a really special feeling to win this title. Lyon means so much to me, it was where I won my first title in 2001, and now it's the first title I have won as a father," said Ljubicic. "It has given me the belief that I am still a great player and that I can compete with the best. I feel in great physical condition and I'm going to give everything I have in the last two weeks of the year."

Ljubicic, who started the season ranked No. 45, has risen to No. 25 in the rankings. He is the second highest-ranked Croatian player behind No. 13 Marin Cilic. Since suffering a disheartening straight-sets loss to Novak Djokovic in the first round of the US Open, the hero of Croatia's 2005 Davis Cup championship team has registered an 11-3 record with three consecutive quarterfinal appearances.

The man known for his explosive one-handed backhand, ended hopes of an all-French final in dispatching Arnaud Clement, 6-2, 6-4, in the semifinals. Ljubicic beat three straight Frenchman en route to the title.

On the doubles side, a crowd pleasing  all-French final saw another title drought come to an end after six years title when Julien Benneteau and Nicholas Mahut overcame Clement and Sebastien Grosjean 6-4, 7-6(6), to become the first all-French team to take the title in years.

The 27-year-old Benneteau won his first doubles title of the season just two weeks ago in Shanghai playing with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

"It's great to win a title," said Benneteau. "After winning the doubles at the Masters 1000 in Shanghai, and winning this title on home soil, it's been a good few weeks for me in doubles."

As for Ljubicic, he can put his title trophy to good use as a birthday gift — son Leonardo celebrates his first birthday on Thursday.

Emily Lewis is a Tennis Week contributing writer.