Youzhny injury hands Soderling ABN AMRO crown

 

Originally published on: 26/02/10 11:54

Robin Soderling secured the ABN AMRO World Tennis title in Rotterdam after Mikhail Youzhny was forced to retire hurt midway through the final.

The 2009 French Open finalist took the first set 6-4, converting all three break-point opportunities he created, and had moved into a 2-0 lead in the second when the Russian called it quits with a wrist injury.

It was a recurrence of the problem that forced him to withdraw from the third round of the Australian Open after a marathon victory over Richard Gasquet.

“I’m sorry I could not finish,” said Youzhny, champion at the Rotterdam event in 2007. “I couldn’t move so well. I tried my best, I had been hoping to do better today.”

Soderling, who lost the 2008 final to Michael Llodra, was delighted with the win after losing in the first round of his two previous events this year in Chennai and at the Australian Open.

“I’ve always wanted to play well here again,” he said. “It was a good week for me but a bit up and down.”

It was world No.8 Soderling’s first final in 13 tournaments.

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