Update 6:50 pm. Top seed Robin Soderling is the first man through to the Brisbane International final, defeating former champion and 2010 finalist Radek Stepanek in straight sets, 6-3 7-5.
Soderling was quick to take out the first three games with an aggressive attack on the Czech, who played some tactful light-hitting early on in an attempt catch the Swede off guard.
But World No.5 Soderling was on the ball, making good strong returns until he secured the first set.
With Stepanek taking out the first game of the second set, they inched their way game for game to 3-3, when Soderling took back the lead. But Stepanek held on.
With the right-handed Swede just a game away from victory at 5-4, he found the net, taking the score to deuce before making two unforced errors and handing the game to Stepanek. The crowd exploded as the score moved to 5-5, with Stepanek playing up to the crowd whose energy he was feeding off.
But Soderling proved too strong. With just one game between him and a coveted spot in the finals, Soderling hit some powerful winners to take the match, handing just one point to his opponent – a double fault.
It was sweet revenge for Soderling, who lost to Stepanek in the quarterfinals of the 2009 Brisbane International, before the Czech went on to claim the inaugural title.
“I served well and I played well in the whole week. I think today was my best match and I’m really glad that I am improving for every match,” Soderling said.
“Well I missed a couple of easy shots but at the same time he played really well, he was returning well. Maybe I didn’t go for my first serve as much as I should have.
“I tried to put it in but then he returned really well indeed so I think it was a mix of me playing a little bit too safe and him playing really well that game.”
At 5-5 in the second set, Soderling knew Stepanek was back in with a chance.
“And then I managed to play really good return game to break him back again, and then you know I felt really well … it takes a lot to break me two times in a row,” he said.
“Of course it was tough since I had a match point, but I kept telling myself that I have to be positive. I was still leading the match one set and it was only five-all so even though he broke me back I still felt that I had a good chance to win the match.
“He played really well and he’s a player, you know, I don’t really like to play against because he mix[es] up his game a lot – he plays really fast – but today I handled it very well so I’m really happy with today’s match.”
Soderling says he tries to take his matches “point by point, game by game, and not think about what has been”.
“I always play it aggressive. I always try to be the one that’s take initiative of every point. And I improved a lot – I’m moving much better now compared to a couple of years ago and I think that’s a big key in my game,” he said.
“And always of course when my serve is working this well I always play well …”
Tomorrow Soderling will meet World No.8 American Andy Roddick in the final.
Head-to-head Soderling has won three matches in comparison to Roddick’s two.
But of their three meetings in 2010, two of those belonged to Roddick with just one for Soderling – the other two wins coming in 2008.
Some tickets still remain for tonight’s women’s final and tomorrow’s men’s final at Pat Rafter Arena. Tickets can be purchased online from Ticketek.