COSTA DO SAUIPE, Brazil — Thomas Robredo of Spain earned his eighth career title when he overcame Thomaz Bellucci 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 at the Brazil Open final today.

Second-seeded Robredo was broken when serving for the match at 5-3 in the third set, but immediately returned the favor to unseeded Bellucci to finish the 2-hour, 13-minute match on clay.

Bellucci, Brazil's top player, hadn't reached an ATP quarterfinals until this week, and was trying to become the first home champion since Gustavo Kuerten in 2004. Backed by 2,000 raucous home fans, he gave Robredo a better match than expected in their first matchup.

Robredo's break in the second game decided the first set. He hadn't dropped a set or lost a service game in the tournament, but after winning 41 successive service games, he was broken by Bellucci for 5-3 in the second, and the Brazilian hung on to force a deciding set.

Robredo made the first break for 4-2, but Bellucci got it back in the ninth game. Robredo pulled out a third break in the last game and celebrated his first title since last July.

Seven of his eight titles have been won on clay.