Soderling handed victory
02/15/2010 12:29:28 AM
Robin Soderling secured the ABN Amro World Tennis Tournament title in Rotterdam after Mikhail Youzhny was forced to retire hurt.
The 2009 French Open finalist, who had yet to get beyond the first round in a tournament this year, took the first set 6-4 as he won all three of the break-point opportunities he created.
The Swede then moved into a 2-0 lead in the second set only for his Russian opponent, who had knocked top seed Novak Djokovic out in the semi-finals, retire due to a wrist injury that had forced him to withdraw from his third-round clash against Lukasz Kubot at the Australian Open.
Meanwhile a ruthless Juan Carlos Ferrero dropped one game as he crushed Lukasz Kubot in the Brasil Open final.
The former world No.1 defeated the Pole 6-1 6-0 to win his 13th ATP Tour title at the clay court event in Costa do Sauipe.
The 30-year-old Spaniard recovered from having his serve broken early on to convert seven of 10 break point chances and surrender a total of just 13 points on his own serve.
"You never expect to play a one-sided final like this," said Ferrero.
"One is always nervous in the beginning of a final, and it wasn't different today."
"I thought I played well from the beginning and with two breaks of serve ahead quite early in the match I never looked back."
"I am very happy for this title at the moment."