ESPN Tennis

LYON, France -- Swede Robin Soderling overpowered Frenchman Julien Benneteau 6-3, 6-7, 6-1 to win his second Lyon Grand Prix title on Sunday.

Seventh seed Soderling, who also won the indoor event in 2004, relied on booming serves and powerful forehands to down the unseeded Frenchman.

Soderling, winning his first final of the year at the fourth attempt, won his third career title, the first since he won in Milan in 2005.

As a reward, he will enter the top 20 for the first time when the latest ATP rankings are released on Monday.

"I really wanted to win," he said. "I had played well already in my previous three finals but today I was really focused and I think was the better player.

"Being in the top 20 has always been a goal of mine," he added. "My new goal is the top 10. If I keep playing well, I think I can make it."

Benneteau, ranked 56th in the world, was chasing his first title. He fought well in the second set, coming back from a break down to force a tiebreak, which he won 7-5 with a service winner.

Soderling, however, was back in control in the deciding set, opening up a 5-0 lead and soon earning two match points. Benneteau bowed out by sending a return long on the first of them.

"I would have loved to win here but Robin played unbelievable tennis all week," said Benneteau, who comes from a small town near Lyon. "I'll be back."