TENNIS in DEPTH.

Fernando Verdasco claimed his second title this year with victory over Robin Soderling in the final of the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell this afternoon.

The fifth seed from Madrid saw off the second-seeded Swede 6-3 4-6 6-3 to ensure there would be a Spanish winner at this event for the eighth straight year.

Verdasco headed into this tournament on the back of a thumping defeat to Rafael Nadal in the final of the Monte Carlo Masters last Sunday.

The 26-year-old won only one game against his fellow Spaniard Nadal, victor in the Catalan capital in each of the last five years, but responded well this week as he looked to add to the title he picked up in San Jose in February.

Verdasco broke his Swedish opponent in consecutive service games en route to the first set this afternoon but the 2009 French Open finalist hit back to take the second set.

The Spaniard broke Soderling again in the fourth game of the decider, however, and served out to clinch the title.

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