Soderling Reaches ATP World Tour Semi-Finals

HEAD players battled on the courts in London at the 2009 Barclays ATP World Tour Finals over the weekend.

World No. 8 Robin Soderling, in his first ATP World Finals appearance, secured advancement to the semi-finals after finishing top in his group during the round robin phase. In an intense semi-finals match against U.S. Open champion and World No. 5 Juan Martin del Potro, Soderling fell in three sets 6-7(1), 6-3, 7-6(3).

“The 2009 season has been a good one for me,” said Soderling. “I’m happy with my performances in the past months and during the Barclays. I’ve made some great steps to develop my game and will continue to improvement as I look toward the 2010 season.”

It was a strong close to the season for Soderling. He recorded two straight-set victories over World No. 2 Rafael Nadal and World No. 3 and fellow HEAD player, Novak Djokovic. Soderling plays with a YOUTEK Radical MP.

Djokovic handed Rafael Nadal his third straight loss at the tournament, winning in two sets 7-6 (5), 6-3 but was eliminated from the tournament on sets. World No. 4 Andy Murray’s elimination came down to the last game of the Juan Martin del Potro and World No. 1 Roger Federer match. He finished with two wins and identical 5-4 set records but had the lowest percentage of games won.

In the doubles competition, HEAD players Martin Mertinak and Mark Knowles reached the semi-finals with their respective partners Frantisek Cermak and Mahesh Bhupathi.

Cermak and Mertinak capped a stellar debut season together with a strong showing at the season finale, including victory over reigning ATP World Tour Doubles Champions Daniel Nestor and fellow HEAD player Nenad Zimonjic to reach the semi-finals.