Nicolas Almagro and Albert Montanes keep Spain on sporting high

Nicolas Almagro and Albert Montanes completed an exceptional week for Spanish sport yesterday when, firstly, Almagro captured his sixth ATP World Tour title at the SkiStar Swedish Open and, later in the day, Montanes lifted the Mercedes Cup in Stuttgart.

Hot on the heels of Spain's World Cup win in South Africa last Sunday, world No 20 Almagro was a surprise winner after defeating top seed and defending champion Robin Soderling 7-5, 3-6, 6-2 in Bastad, while Montanes' win in Germany came after Gael Monfils was forced to retire with a right ankle injury. Montanes was leading 6-2, 1-2.

"It's a great feeling to win here," said Almagro. "It's always amazing to win a final and I'm very happy with the week. I'm going to enjoy this moment and then prepare for next week in Hamburg."

Victory gave Almagro his first ATP World Tour title since winning the Abierto Mexicano Telcel in 2009 and all six of the Spaniard's titles have come on outdoor clay.

After saving two break points in the second game of the match, Almagro took his fourth opportunity to break Soderling's serve in the 12th game and seal a one-set lead. Soderling hit back strongly, though, racing to a 3-0 lead in the second set before going on to level the match, saving one break point as he served out the set in the ninth game.

With the match finely poised on serve in the third set, Almagro lifted his level to win the final four games from 2-2 to seal victory in just less than two hours.

"It was a big match, a big fight and we were both battling like gladiators. Robin is a great player and I'm sure he will have many more chances to win this tournament in the future."

Victory saw Almagro level his career series with Soderling at 3-3, avenging the defeat he suffered to the Swede in the 2009 Bastad quarter-finals.

"Too bad that I didn't get the break early in the first set. I played OK in the second set but I gave away a break in the decisive set, and that's why I lost," said Soderling. "I was very disappointed."

Montanes went into his final with the confidence of having beaten No 2 seed Jurgen Melzer and No 4 Juan Carlos Ferrero back-to-back in the quarter- finals and semi-finals. He broke Monfils' serve in the third and seventh games as he raced to a one-set lead in 33 minutes.

However, the Frenchman was forced to retire just three games into the second set.