Second seed Goffin recovered from a set down to defeat top-seeded Roberto Bautista Agut 5-7 6-4 6-2 on Sunday after a two hours and five minute battle.

"It's never easy to win tournaments," Goffin said in an on-court interview after claiming a first title since the 2017 Rakuten Japan Open Tennis Championships in Tokyo.

"I had some opportunities, I've had matches (where) I had zero chance to win in the final.

"Sometimes you take it, sometimes not. I've played some finals, but you need to continue, you need to improve your game, you need to fight and I'm happy that it paid off at the end."

The Belgian landed 13 aces and broke serve on four occasions as Bautista Agut was eventually overpowered.

After becoming the third non-Frenchman to triumph in Montpellier, Goffin said: "A final is always different. You have to just go for it.

"I raised my level and I'm really happy at the end because it was a tough moment. I had tough weeks last season and I'm happy that I'm back with a level like this."

Goffin's victory also added more lustre to the current form of Alexei Popyrin a few hours after the Australian had himself lifted the Singapore Open title.

Popyrin had saved four match points when beating Goffin over five sets in the recent Australian Open.

Australian Associated Press