Soderling gains first victory over Federer

ROBIN SODERLING claimed his first victory over world number one Roger Federer at the 13th time of asking in Abu Dhabi yesterday to reach the final of the Capitala World Tennis Championship.

The Swede perhaps had the advantage, having begun his season yesterday with victory over Federer’s Swiss compatriot Stanislas Wawrinka at the exhibition tournament.

However, the 15-time grand slam champion began well in his first match of the campaign, taking the opening set on a tie-break and then breaking in the opening game of the second.

Soderling is a different prospect since reaching his first grand slam final in France last year though, and he broke back in game six before levelling in a one-sided second tie-break.

Although the Swede lost to Federer in Paris, he built on that breakthrough and impressed in November’s ATP World Tour Finals in London, reaching the semi-finals.

Soderling gained the crucial break in the third game of the decider and then saved four break points in the next game before breaking again to seal a 6-7 (6/8) 7-6 (7/1) 6-2 victory.

Soderling will face Rafael Nadal in the final after the world number two defeated fellow Spaniard David Ferrer 7-6 (7/3) 6-3. Nadal had cut a frustrated figure in London as he failed to win a match and he had warned not to expect too much at the start of 2010.

But he looked in pretty good form as he ground out a straight-sets triumph over his Davis Cup team-mate.

Ferrer had his chances in the opening set, Nadal saving two break points in the fourth game and then a couple of set points at 4-5.