Llodra wins Rotterdam Open title

ROTTERDAM, Netherlands — Michael Llodra of France won the Rotterdam Open title by defeating Swede Robin Soderling 6-7 6-3 7-6 in Sunday’s final.

Llodra’s triumph capped a hectic period, coming in the 23rd match of a year in which so far he has had only a week off.

By contrast Soderling was playing in only his second tournament in the past six months after a wrist injury kept him idle until last week’s event in Marseille.

It was a completely unexpected final at a tournament which featured Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray and Lleyton Hewitt.

All the seeded players were out after two rounds, the first time such a thing has happened at an ATP event for two years.

Llodra triumphed in two hours, eight minutes and joins Murray as a double-title winner this season, after his success in Adelaide at the start of the year.

It’s been an unbelievable week for me, said the 58th-ranked Llodra, who claimed the Wimbledon doubles title last summer and reached the Australian Open doubles final in January.

I could not have won this match a year ago, he said. I could never have expected to win two tournaments in two months. But I’m fighting more now on every point and that can change a match.

He received treatment on his back during the second set while leading Soderling by a break.

Soderling hit 22 aces and Llodra 15.

Soderling last won an ATP title three years ago in Milan, the second of his career, but he said his confidence had been boosted by this performance.

When I look back later, I will see it was a good week for me. There was just a small margin in the match, he played well on the important points, said the Swede. E-mail to a friend

Llodra wins Rotterdam Open title – found here.