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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Saturday, January 2, 2010

Tennis: Nadal beats Soderling in Abu Dhabi final


Associated Press

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — Rafael Nadal has beaten Robin Soderling 7-6 (3), 7-5 in the final of the season-opening Capitala exhibition tournament to end a two-match losing streak against the Swede.

Both players held serve throughout the first set on Saturday before the second-ranked Spaniard won the tiebreaker. Nadal then broke decisively in the sixth game of the second set at Zayed Sports City.

Soderling had ended Nadal's 31-game unbeaten run on clay at the French Open last year, and beat him again at the season-sending ATP Tour World Finals in London.

Roger Federer defeated David Ferrer of Spain 6-1, 7-5 for third place.