2010 PNB Paribas Masters: Swede Robin Soderling storms into championship final
Seeded no. 4 at the 2010 PNB Paribas Masters, Sweden's Robin Soderling got through with Frenchman Michael Llodra to make a place for him in the finals of the tournament. Llodra initiated the match with a 7-6 tiebreak win in the
first set. Additionally, the two remained evenly contested all through the second. The set however, went in favour of Soderling as he took it 7-5. Unfortunately, for Michael, his reign ended just as his competitor bagged the deciding third set 7-6 to advance
to the final.
Having lost twice at the French Open, Soderling stated, "It is my third final in Paris, I hope I'll win this one." Llodra on the other hand said, "I gave everything today, I was close. Obviously I am disappointed but I still have
a great goal: the Davis Cup final and we will need you."
The Frenchman battled it out against Russia's Nikolay Davydenko in the quarterfinals to face Soderling in the following round. Davydenko was thrashed 7-5 in the first set and 6-1 in the following set, to be sent home.
Meanwhile, Robin eliminated the no. 8 seed, namely America's Andy Roddick in the quarterfinal match played between the two. Roddick was beaten 7-5 and 6-4, marking a straight set win for Soderling.
Earlier, Roddick got rid of Latvia's Ernests Gulbis defeating him 6-3 in the first set and 7-6 in the second. Soderling annihilated Switzerland's Stanislas Wawrinka in the second round of his draw. Wawrinka was beaten 7-6 and 6-3.
Stanislas made it through upon defeating Croatia's Ivan Ljubicic in the second round of the tournament. Ljubicic was thrashed 6-4 in the first set and 6-4 in the following set to be knocked out of the tournament.
Upon receiving a bye into the second round, Robin was opposed by France's Gilles Simon. Soderling got off to a good start taking the first set 6-4 and followed it up with a 6-0 win in the second set. Simon, on the contrary, advanced
to the second round upon defeating Kazakhstan's Andrey Golubev. Gilles lost the first set 3-6; however, that seemed all his opponent had to offer as the Frenchman took the second set 6-4 and the deciding third set 6-3.
Additionally, Soderling will be opposed by local Gael Monfils in the championship final. Monfils annihilated Swiss man Roger Federer in the semi-finals, defeating him 7-6, 6-7 and 7-6.
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