Tennis

Nadal wins UAE exhibition final against Soderling

Published Jan. 2, 2010 6:11 p.m. ET

share

facebookxredditlink

foxsports

Rafael Nadal won his first title of 2010, beating Robin Soderling 7-6 (3), 7-5 in an exhibition tournament Saturday to end a two-match losing streak against the Swede.

After both players held serve throughout the first set, the second-ranked Spaniard broke decisively in the sixth game of the second set of the final at Zayed Sports City.

Soderling had ended Nadal's 31-game unbeaten run on clay at the French Open last year, and beat him again at the season-sending ATP Tour World Finals in London.

Roger Federer defeated David Ferrer of Spain 6-1, 7-5 in the third-place playoff match.

share