Ivan Ljubicic ended a title drought stretching back over two years on Sunday by winning the 650,000 euros ($A1.07 million) Lyon ATP trophy, beating Frenchman Mickael Llodra 7-6 6-3.

The third-seeded Croatian, who won the first of his nine career titles at this event in 2001, required one break of serve in the first set in the 12th game to edge into the lead having wasted two break points in the sixth game.

Llodra, ranked 107th in the world and who required a wild card invitation to compete in Lyon, fought back to break Ljubicic in the first game of the second set and then took a 2-0 lead.

However, that was the high point of his match as Ljubicic, ranked 29 in the world, stormed back to take the next five games and ultimately the match to claim his first title since winning on grass at s'Hertogenbosch in the summer of 2007.

"It was a pretty even match but I knew that if I kept to my game plan that I would eventually come through it okay," said 30-year-old Ljubicic, who slipped to 76th in the world in March because of back and thigh injuries.

"I felt good on court and I played really good tennis.

"If I continue to play like this, there will still be good things to come."