Soderling to play Tsonga in Rotterdam final

ROTTERDAM // Robin Soderling will defend his title against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the final of the ABN Amro World Tennis Tournament after both secured semi-finals victories last night.

Top-seeded Soderling came from 4-1 down to dismiss Viktor Troicki of Serbia 7-5, 6-4, twice breaking Troicki in each set.

The eighth-seeded Tsonga dispatched two-time finalist Ivan Ljubicic 6-4, 7-6 (6).

Soderling, who won the Brisbane title in January, has a 3-0 record against Tsonga.

Tsonga will be trying to end a 15-month title drought.

With Ljubicic serving for the second set at 5-3, Tsonga forced another break then won the decisive tiebreaker. A cross-court forehand put Tsonga into the final.

"His returns were really clever but I also had an advantage because I served well," Tsonga said. "It's never easy to play against Ivan."

Nicolas Escude was the last player to successfully defend the Rotterdam title in 2002.