( CNN ) -- Fernando Verdasco beat Swede Robin Soderling 6-3 4-6 6-3 to claim the Barcelona Open crown on Sunday and ensure a Spanish winner of the clay court tournament for the eighth successive year . The fifth seed Verdasco might have been demoralized after his straight sets rout at the hands of Rafael Nadal in the Monte Carlo Masters final last weekend , but showed his fighting qualities against Soderling . With defending champion Nadal opting not to defend his title at his own club , Verdasco took advantage to add to his San Jose title success earlier this year . He follows compatriots Carlos Moya ( 2003 ) , Tommy Robredo ( 2004 ) and Nadal for the last five years in keeping the trophy on home soil . `` I 'm very excited and happy to win this tournament . I was n't originally going to play this week , but I got a wild card and here I am , '' he told the ATP Tour 's official Web site . `` I 've been training here since the age of 15 . Watching the Barcelona Open for me has always been a very special tournament . '' Verdasco broke the big-hitting Soderling in consecutive service games as he took the opening set . Soderling , who beat Nadal en route to last year 's French Open final , showed his ability on clay by winning the second to set up a decider . But the home hope broke Soderling again in the fourth game of the third set and served out to clinch the title . Nevertheless , it was a promising first appearance of the season on clay for Soderling as he builds up to the French Open at Roland Garros from May 23 where Roger Federer defends the crown .
Spain 's Fernando Verdasco claims Barcelona Open title . Fifth seed Verdasco beats Robin Soderling in three-set final . Spanish players have won in Barcelona for the last eight years . TL;DR Rafael Nadal wins his first French Open singles title, beating Roger Federer to win 6-4, 7-6 (5), 6-4 on Sunday at Roland Garros.