Lorenzo Sonego beat Alexander Bublik 7-6 (7/3), 6-2 to win the Moselle ATP Open in Metz on Sunday.
Before beating the Kazahk, Sonego toppled the defending champion and world number 10 Hubert Hurkacz 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 in the semi-final.
Sonego had a tough 2022 with 18 wins and 24 defeats.
"I got better every day and I played my best tennis. Winning has been very emotional because I had difficulties this year," he said.
This was a third career trophy for the Italian and he did not drop a single set along the way.
It was also Sonego's first triumph on hard courts after wins on grass and clay and came in his fifth tour-level final.
The 19th edition of the Moselle Open saw a return to form of 37-year-old Swiss Stan Wawrinka, who beat Daniil Medvedev in the second round and made it to the semi-final before retiring with injury.
Next year's tournament will be pushed back in the calendar to early November.