Courier, appearing in his first event since his emotional Davis Cup victory three weeks ago, hit a forehand winner on match point to complete the only service break of the final set yesterday. He collected his 23rd ATP tour title and $37,500.

A winner of 32 career ATP tour titles, Chang is still searching for his first singles win since the Legg Mason Classic in Washington last July. In February, Chang lost in the final of Kroger St Jude in Memphis, his only other appearance in a final since his victory here last year.

Ranked as high as second in his career, the 26-year-old Chang has suffered through 11 early-round defeats and a recent knee injury since winning this event last year. Chang's ranking will fall from 12th to as low as 15th when the new ATP ranking are released.

Courier barely managed to hold serve in the thirdset. In the seventh game, he battled through six deuces and saved a break point. In the ninth game, he rallied from 0-40 down to win the next five points and saved another break point in 11th game before breaking Chang in the next to win the clash of only American men to claim French Open titles since 1956.

Currently ranked 57th in the World, the 27-year-old Courier will jump to 40th in next week's rankings.