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LONDON: Robin Soderling claimed his second big scalp at the ATP World Tour Finals as the Swede defeated reigning champion Novak Djokovic 7-6 (7/5), 6-1 on Wednesday to reach the semi-finals.
Soderling is only competing in this prestigious season finale because of an injury to Andy Roddick, but his victory over Rafael Nadal in his opening match made it clear he is determined to take advantage of his good fortune.
The 25-year-old, ranked ninth in the world, underlined the point by making Djokovic the latest victim of his impressive form this season.
Soderling said: "I won two matches in straight sets against the world number two and number three. I couldn't have asked for anything more.
"So far I'm enjoying it a lot. But there's still at least two more matches to go. I hope to do really well in those two, as well.
"I will focus on my next match before the semis. Then I have to win two more matches against great players (to win the tournament)."
Djokovic admitted he is feeling the effects of a gruelling year. "I'm very tired. It's just fatigue of the whole year," he said. "I didn't enjoy playing this match, that's for sure.
"I don't think I played too much. I just played very solid in all the tournaments that I was committed to play.
"All credit to him. He has nothing to lose. He won four straight sets and absolutely deserved to qualify for semi-finals. I think he's the best player so far in the tournament."
Soderling, who ended Nadal's four-year reign as French Open champion with a shock win en route to the final earlier this year, had lost his five past meetings with Djokovic, with his most recent defeat to the Serb coming just two weeks ago in the Paris Masters.
That run came to an end in emphatic fashion in this Group B clash.
After a marathon three-set victory over Nikolay Davydenko that didn't finish until close to midnight on Monday, Djokovic must have been relieved to see his match scheduled in the more sociable early slot.
Whatever time of day the world number three plays, Djokovic has been in supreme form of late, winning 19 of his last 20 matches.
But Djokovic never found any rhythm against the ruthlessly efficient Swede. A hard-fought set looked to have swung Soderling's way when Djokovic gifted him three set-points at 4-5.
Djokovic, defending superbly at the back of the court, clawed back all three and the set went to a tie-break.
Again it was Soderling who took control at the crucial moment as he hit a perfect volley to earn two more set points. His nerve held this time and he converted the second set point to move into the lead.
The Swede is widely regarded as one of the world's best indoor players and he kept the pressure on Djokovic in the second set.
Djokovic hardly helped himself though, attempting a drop-shot on break point that he flunked completely and gave Soderling a 2-1 lead.
That was enough to send the tired Serb into something of a meltdown. He had already been gesturing angrily towards his coaching team in between points and his composure disappeared as Soderling broke again to finish the contest. - AFP/de
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