(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.
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Spain's Fernando Verdasco claims Barcelona Open title
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Fifth seed Verdasco beats Robin Soderling in three-set final
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Spanish players have won in Barcelona for the last eight years
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Verdasco was thrashed in Monte Carlo final last weekend by Rafael Nadal
But the home hope broke @placeholder again in the fourth game of the third set and served out to clinch the title.