Soderling Sets Roland Garros Final Rematch With Federer

© Getty ImagesDavid Ferrer reached the semi-finals with a hard-fought win over Nikolay Davydenko.

Robin Soderling set a rematch of the Roland Garros final with Roger Federer after edging Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka 7-6, 7-6 to reach the semi-finals of the Capitala World Tennis Championship, an exhibition tournament in Abu Dhabi.

"It's always great to play Roger and I'm looking forward to it,” said Soderling. “Even though he beat me every time, I feel like I learned something from each match, but hopefully this time I can finally win one.”

Soderling squandered a 5-1 lead in the first set against Wawrinka and a 5-4 advantage as he served for the match in the second set but was able to close out a tight victory in two tie-breaks.

“He was playing good last year and finished in the Top 10,” complimented World No. 21 Wawrinka. “But today I’m very pleased, it was a good match to start the year and I’m looking forward to the next few weeks. I will try to come back to the Top 15 (of the South African Airways 2010 ATP Rankings), I’m very happy with my preparation in December and with my game.”

“I feel good for the moment,” commented Soderling. “I’m trying to forget what I did last year and trying to focus on the New Year. Obviously I did great and I will try to play the same way next year. It was a great match today, very close. I felt that we both played a great match.”

Soderling enjoyed a career-best season in 2009, reaching his first Grand Slam final at Roland Garros and finishing in the Top 10 of the South African Airways 2009 ATP Rankings. The Swede also reached the semi-finals of the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals on his debut at the season finale, defeating Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic en route.

The other semi-final will be an all-Spanish affair after David Ferrer broke serve to love in the last game of the match to defeat Nikolay Davydenko 2-6, 6-2, 6-4 and set up a clash with World No. 2 Nadal.

“It was a nice start to the season, beating Nikolay,” said Ferrer. “I will try my best [in the semi-finals]; Rafael is the best Spanish player in history and a nice person. I want to enjoy this match,” added the Valencia resident, who has lost his past four matches against his countryman.”

“It was an important match for me, three sets,” said Davydenko, who was playing his first match since winning the biggest trophy of his career at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in November. “I was fighting every point and unfortunately made some mistakes to lose the match.”

The Russian will officially open the new season at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open, beginning Monday 4th January in Doha. “For me every match I win during the next three months will bring me points and improve my ranking,” said Davydenko, who was forced to endure a spell on the sidelines early in 2009 due to a heel injury. “I am enjoying my tennis and look forward to it.”