Tennis: Robin Soderling gets first-ever win over Federer

The Swede perhaps had the advantage, having begun his season on Thursday with victory over Federer's Swiss compatriot Stanislas Wawrinka at the grandly-named exhibition tournament.

But the 15-times grand slam champion began well in his first match of the campaign, taking the opening set on a tie-break and then breaking in the opening game of the second.

Soderling is a different prospect since reaching his first grand slam final in France last year, though, and broke back in game six before levelling in a second tie-break.

Although the Swede lost to Federer in Paris, he built on that breakthrough and impressed in November's ATP World Tour Finals in London, reaching the semi-finals.