Oct 12, 2008 - 2:25 PM
0 shoutsSTOCKHOLM, Sweden (Ticker) -- David Nalbandian finished off a solid week with a title.
The top-seeded Argentine posted a 6-2, 5-7, 6-3 victory over fourth-seeded Swede Robin Soderling to win the Stockholm Open final on Sunday.
Nalbandian, the only top-30 player in the field, dropped just one set -- the second set of the final -- in five matches at this hardcourt event.
"I think I played a very solid match today," said Nalbandian. "I did have some chances to win in the second set but at that moment I didn't play so well. Robin is a tough opponent. All our matches are very tight and this time it wasn't different. He hits the ball very hard all the time so I had to play my best to beat him."
Nalbandian now has a 9-8 record in ATP finals by claiming his second title this year after clinching the Buenos Aires trophy in February. He also finished runner-up at Acapulco the following week.
Both players held their serve in the third set until the seventh game, when Nalbandian broke to take a 4-3 lead on his fourth break point after Soderling netted a backhand.
Nalbandian, who claimed the $156,000 first prize, then held at love to lead 5-3 and wrapped up the match with another break after Soderling double-faulted on match point.
"Overall I'm happy with my performance this week," said Nalbandian, who hit 31 aces and won 40 of 43 service games in five match wins this week. "I think I've played well every time I stepped in the court and this gives me some confidence going into Madrid."
