Unseeded Gaston Gaudio captured his first title with a straight-sets victory over Spaniard Albert Costa in the ATP Tour event in Barcelona.

The Argentinian, who a day earlier beat top seed Lleyton Hewitt, posted a 6-4 6-0 6-2 triumph against former champion Costa.

Gaudio has not lost a set this week and dropped just 38 games in victories against Albert Montanes, Thomas Enqvist, Carlos Moya, Alberto Martin and finally Costa.

The 29-year-old Gaudio was a finalist twice in his career, coming short against compatriot Guillermo Coria at last year's Vina del Mar tournament and to Franco Squillari in Stuttgart the previous year.

Gaudio said: "I've played well the whole week and I've won some tough matches.

"There are no words to describe how happy I am to win my first event, especially such a big event like Barcelona, which is also one of my favourite tournaments.

"I want to dedicate this win to my mother, because if I don't she won't let me go back home.

"I know she's very happy today because she's Spanish and this is my second home."

Costa admitted fatigue took its toll on him.

He said: "The first set was very tough and I completely ran out of strength after that.

"But that's not to take anything away from Gaudio because he played a fantastic match.

"There was not a contest today; he was much better than me. He was incredible, he was impeccable."