Stockholm - Argentine top seed David Nalbandian claimed his
third indoor title in 12 months on Sunday as he held off Swede Robin
Soderling 6-2, 5-7, 6-3 to win the Stockholm Open on his debut.
The South American, ranked seventh in the world, needed 90 minutes
to overcome Soderling who looked like going down quickly but fought
back after losing the opening set in little more than 20 minutes.
'I played great again today,' said the delighted winner, now 23-13
on the season with titles in Sweden and Buenos Aires in February. 'He
played well in the pressure in the second set to win it and my level
was not so good.
'But in the third I got it back under control. I was very solid
and very tight in my game.'
Sweden is still looking for its first home title since Thomas
Johansson in 2004 at the Kungligahallen.
Nalbandian dropped the second set but broke Soderling's last two
serves in the third to claim victory.
Last year Nalbandian won back-to-back Masters titles in Madrid and
Paris Bercy.
'I like it indoors, there's no wind, no sun - no rain. It's really
the prefect conditions that I like. For me it's good to play indoors.'
Nalbandian is the first from his nation to win the Stockholm crown
and remains in the race for a pot in the eight-man Masters Cup in
Shanghai next month.
But he has said he is unlikely to play in China in order to
prepare for the November 21-23 Davis Cup final in Mar del Plata
against Spain. 'The Davis Cup is my goal.'
The Argentine flies to Madrid on Monday for the Masters, where he
is seeded seventh and is defending his title with Rafael Nadal and
Roger Federer heading a field which includes the entire Top 25.
'I'm going with confidence, I've won my first indoor event of the
season, so it's a great start for me.
'I'm confident and hope to defend my trophy.' Nalbandian fired 13
aces and broke five times while Soderling put of 18 untouchable
serves in front of his home public.
USA
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