Top-seeded Argentine David Nalbandian captured his ninth ATP title after a hard-fought 6-2, 5-7, 6-3 victory over No. 4 seed Robin Soderling of Sweden at the If Stockholm Open on Sunday. Nalbandian, who added 40 points to his ATP 2008 Race tally, now travels to Madrid to defend his Mutua Madrilena Masters Madrid title.
The 26-year-old started strongly moving into a 4-0 lead before Soderling, who was making his sixth appearance in Stockholm, won his first serve game. Nalbandian won 17 of 20 service points in the 25-minute first set.
Nalbandian moved into a 4-2 lead in the second set, courtesy of a service break in the third game, before dropping serve to love. Soderling converted his second break of serve to clinch the second set 7-5 in 40 minutes.
In the deciding set, Nalbandian secured service breaks in the sixth and seventh and ninth games for victory in one hour and 38 minutes. The Cordoba resident hit 13 aces; won 73 per cent of service points and saved two of four break point opportunities in the final.
Nalbandian hit 31 aces and won 40 of 43 service games in five match wins this week.
Nalbandian improved to 34-13 (14-5 on hard courts) on the season, highlighted by one other ATP title at Buenos Aires (d. Acasuso) and a runner-up finish in Acapulco (l. to Almagro) in February.
The World No. 7 improved to 9-8 in ATP finals (3-2 in hard-court finals).
The 24-year-old Soderling, who hit 18 aces in the final, was appearing in his eighth ATP final (2-6 record). He was attempting to capture his first ATP title since 2005 Milan (d. Stepanek).
The top-ranked Swede dropped to 38-19 on the season (23-11 on hard courts). In February he finished runner-up at consecutive ATP events in Rotterdam (l. to Roddick) and Memphis (l. to Darcis). He falls to 9-28 against Top 10 stars.
Nalbandian earned 225 South African Airways ATP Ranking points and collected €115,500 in prize money, while Soderling €62,400 and 155 points.
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