Robin Soderling Wins Seventh Career Title

Robin Soderling found himself in the winner’s circle this weekend as he defeated Andy Roddick to lift the Brisbane International title.

The Swede had looked in fine form throughout the week and had not dropped a set on the way to the final - where he was facing the defending champion.

And it was a straight forward opening set for the top seed as he broke Roddick early in the set and the American was never able to get back on level terms.

Into the second and there was drama with the pair tied at 4-4 when Roddick slipped on rainwater from a leak in the roof.

He wasn’t injured in the fall but play was halted as the water was wiped off the court. The break in play did little to stop Soderling’s momentum as he finally found a way through as he broke in the eleventh game.

The break left him 6-5 up and serving for the title which he wrapped up to seal a convincing win that sees him leap frog Andy Murray to number four in the world.

Speaking to the BBC after the match Soderling said: "We've only worked together for a couple of weeks, this is the first tournament, and it's working pretty well, no?

"I'm playing really well and what makes me really happy is I never really played well in Australia before. It gives me a lot of confidence for Melbourne."

Soderling goes into the Australian Open, which begins on 17th January, in good shape and will be a major contender in Melbourne

FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw