BRISBANE: Sweden's Robin Soderling won the Brisbane International when he beat American Andy Roddick 6-3, 7-5 at the Queensland Tennis Centre on Sunday.
In a brilliant exhibition of power and precision, the 26-year-old Swede overwhelmed a gallant Roddick in an absorbing final on the Pat Rafter Arena.
Soderling rose to a career-high ranking of number five during 2010 and he carried that form into the first set as the sheer power of his groundstrokes put Roddick firmly on the back foot.
Roddick was taken to deuce in his first service game and was then broken in his second, and while his serve picked up after that the damage was already done as Soderling claimed the first set in 35 minutes.
In contrast to the American, Soderling was serving beautifully and lost only three points on serve in the first set and nine in the match.
He started the second set the way he did the first, holding his own serve with ease while putting enormous pressure on Roddick.
Roddick almost cracked in the fifth game when Soderling had three break points, but the American dug deep to save the game.
But despite showing incredible fighting spirit, Roddick eventually gave Soderling one chance too many and the Swede broke in the 11th game to go into a 6-5 lead.
Soderling showed no signs of nerves as he served for the match, aptly blasting down his 16th ace to clinch victory in one hour 35 minutes.
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