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Soderling wins Lyon to claim 3rd career title
(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-10-27 13:40 LYON, France—Seventh-seeded Robin Soderling of Sweden beat Julien Benneteau 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-1 on Sunday to claim his third career title and first since 2005.
Soderling, playing in his fourth indoor final of the season, broke Benneteau four times in the match and dropped his serve only once to win the Lyon title for the second time after hoisting the trophy at the Gerland arena in 2004. The 24-year-old Soderling's only other title came three years ago in Milan, Italy. "I lost three finals this season, so I'm very happy to finally win one," Soderling said. "You really have to be consistent and play well during a whole week to win a tournament. I'm glad that I made it this week. Lyon is a special place for me since I won my first title here in 2004." Soderling is set to break into the top 20 for the first time on Monday at either No. 18 or 19. "As a player you always have the goal of reaching the top 100. Once you get there, you want to get to the top 50," he said. "Reaching the top 20 feels great. It has been my goal for two or three years." Benneteau briefly rallied when he broke Soderling in the eighth game of the second set to make it 4-4, then faded quickly. "Winning my first title in Lyon close to my home town would have been unbelievable," Benneteau said. "Robin is one of the best players indoors. If I played him outdoors on clay with some wind it might have been a different story." The Frenchman, who took only one of four break chances against Soderling in the second set, did not get another chance to break Soderling’s serve in the decider. Soderling had 10 aces in the match. The big-serving Soderling had lost his previous three finals this season in Stockholm, Sweden, Memphis, Tennessee and Rotterdam, Netherlands. Benneteau was in his second career final—both this year—after losing to Gilles Simon on clay in Casablanca, Morocco, in May. |
