World number 11 Nicolas Almagro of Spain defeated Italy's Filippo Volandri 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 on Sunday to successfully defend his Brazil Open claycourt title. The top seed fired 18 aces as he improved to a 7-3 career record against Volandri, winning his fifth match in a row over the 30-year-old. All 11 of Almagro’s career titles have come on clay courts.