Tennis News: Robin Soderling to lead Sweden at the Power House World Team Cup in Dusseldorf
World number five Robin Soderling has confirmed he will lead the Swedish team at the Power House World Team Cup. The 34th edition of the event will be held at the clay courts of Rochusclub in Dusseldorf
from 15-21 May.
Other members of the Swedish team include world number 336 Christian Lindell, doubles specialists Robert Lindstedt, ranked 20th in the 2011 South African Airways ATP Doubles Rankings, and world number
50 Simon Aspelin.
Soderling will be appearing for the fourth time at the ATP World Team Championships. The Swede has a 9-1 win/loss record in singles at the Power House World Team Cup. His only loss here came in the 2007 edition of the event
when he was beaten by Fernando Gonzalez of Chile in three thrilling sets 6-4, 5-7, 4-6 in the second round robin match.
In his last appearance here, the Swede led his team to the title in 2008. Soderling won all of his eight rubbers, including four singles and four doubles matches. In the opening round robin match, the right-handed thrashed
Guillermo Canas of Argentina in straight sets 6-3, 6-1. The Swede battled past Tomas Berdych of Czech Republic in three sets 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 in the second round robin match. Soderling helped his country to top the pool as he prevailed over James Blake of USA
in three sets 5-7, 6-3, 6-0 in the final round robin match. In the title match, the Swede cruised past Mikhail Youzhny of Russia in straight sets 6-3, 6-1.
Conforming his participation, Soderling said, "I have always played well in Dusseldorf and have great memories of this tournament. I decided to nominate Christian Lindell as the second singles player. He is a promising talent
and has performed really well on clay in the past few months."
Soderling had a good start to the season as the Swede won three of the first four tournaments he played this year. However, he has withdrawn from next week’s Monte Carlo Rolex Masters due to a knee injury.
Organizers have awarded Sweden the wild card entry at the Power House World Team Cup. Sweden joins already confirmed teams Spain, Argentina, Serbia, Russia, USA, Kazakhstan and host Germany at the event.
Talking to the journalists during the press briefing, tournament director Dietloff von Arnim said, “We are very pleased about the acceptance of the Swedish team. Robin Soderling is a top player and a very welcome guest at
the Dusseldorf Rochusclub, who enthralled the tennis fans not only during Sweden’s victory in 2008."
Argentina will be the defending champion at the Power House World Team Cup. Four time winners at this championship, the Argentineans defeated USA 2-1 in the finals last year.
Tags: