Tennis: Robin Soderling gets first-ever win over Federer

ROBIN SODERLING claimed his first victory over world number one Roger Federer at the 13th time of asking in Abu Dhabi yesterday to reach the final of the Capitala World Tennis Championship.

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.