Llodra shocks Soderling

 

Originally published on: 26/02/10 13:06

Last year’s runner-up had won only one match this season prior to this week but was in excellent form as he edged out the Swede 7-6 (7/2) 6-4 in a tight match.

World number eight Soderling was on a six-match winning streak after last week clinching his fifth ATP World Tour title in Rotterdam.

Llodra will fancy his chances of securing a repeat final appearance when he takes on unseeded German Mischa Zverev.

Zverev ended the run of French wild card Guillaume Rufin, but not without a fight, eventually coming through 7-5 6-7 (4/7) 6-3.

Defending champion Jo-Wilfried Tsonga had little trouble booking his last-four spot thanks to a 6-3 6-4 victory over Illya Marchenko.

The Frenchman, a semi-finalist at the Australian Open last month, said on www.atpworldtour.com: “I was happy that I won today even if I didn’t play well.

“I wanted to win too quickly, trying to avoid the rallies. I will need more patience in the semi-final.”

Tsonga was guaranteed to meet a countryman in the semi-finals and it was Julien Benneteau who came through, upsetting third seed Gael Monfils 6-3 7-5.

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