Robin Soderling Fights Back From Match Point Down

Robin Soderling has not enjoyed the best run of form in recent weeks having been plagued by illness and injury.

And he faced a tough test in his opening match at the Rome Masters yesterday as he faced former top ten player Fernando Verdasco.

And it looked like it was going to be another exit for the Swede and world number five after dropping the opening set and falling a break behind.

But last year's French Open runner up battled his way back from 40-0 down as Verdasco served for the match to break and get the second set back on even terms.

Into the decider and there was more excitement as Soderling needed treatment on his toe before a brief floodlight failure halted play.

At 5-4 down Verdasco was now serving to stay in the match - have squandered three match point chances in the opening set - Soderling broke the Spaniard to book his place in the next round.

He will now face either Sam Querrey or Nicholas Almagro.

The fine form of Feliciano Lopez, who so nearly dumped Roger Federer out of the Madrid Masters in the second round last week, saw off Michael Llodra in straight sets.

The opener went to a breaker, which Lopez won convincingly before he breezed through the second set to notch up a (7-6 (7-2) 6-1 victory.

Tomas Berdych also booked his place in the third round as he saw off Juan Monaco for the loss of just four games - winning 6-2 6-2.

And there was a similarly impressive victory for Richard Gasquet as he saw off Igor Andreev 6-1 6-2 - he will now face either Roger Federer or Jo-Wilfred Tsonga.

FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw