MADRID: Japan’s Kei Nishikori sealed his fifth career ATP title and first on clay on Sunday with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Colombian Santiago Giraldo to claim the Barcelona Open.

Nishikori, who was playing for the first time on clay this week under new coach and former French Open champion Michael Chang, becomes the first non-Spaniard to win the event since 2002.

“I always love to come to Barcelona and it is a pleasure and honor to be here,” said the world No. 17.

“Thank you to my team, Dante (Bottini) and Michael, and I hope I come back next year and defend this title.

“It is not easy to win this title with all the Spanish players that play here. It is one of the most difficult ATP 500 tournaments and I am very happy to win.” Giraldo was playing in just his second career final on the tour and his inexperience showed as Nishikori dictated from the off and broke three times on his way to taking the first set.

More of the same was to come in the second set as Nishikori raced out to a 5-1 lead before serving out for the championship.

However, Giraldo is hopeful that his run in the Catalan capital can spur him on for the rest of the season.

“I hope that this week can be a new stage in my tennis at the highest level.

“I want to thank my team and with them keep on improving.” Top seed and eight-time champion Rafael Nadal was knocked out by Spanish compatriot Nicolas Almagro in the quarterfinals.

Dimitrov triumphs

In Bucharest, Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov won his second ATP title of the year on Sunday when he defeated Lukas Rosol of the Czech Republic 7-6 (7/5), 6-1 in the final of the Bucharest Open.

Ranked 16th in the world going into this week, Dimitrov, who previously had won in Acapulco where he defeated Andy Murray in the semifinals, struggled against the big-hitting Rosol in the first set.

The Bulgarian took a 2-0 lead in what was the pair’s first meeting, but defending champion Rosol bounced back immediately.

Rosol saved four set points from 15/40 at 5-6, before Dimitrov dominated the tie-break to wrap up the first set in 58 minutes.

He then maintained the momentum by taking a 2-0 lead in the second set and broke Rosol for a third time, to love at 1-3 as he moved on to his 20th match win of 2014.

Dimitrov had reached the final on Saturday when his French opponent, Gael Monfils, retired after just 16 minutes of their semifinal.