Here's part 2 of 3 in catching up on the month of February.  At least it's a short month, right?

ATP 500 Rotterdam - ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament:

Robin Soderling beat Mikhail Youzhny 6-4, 2-0 (ret.) to take the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam after Youzhny retired early in the second set with a leg injury. The title is the biggest title of Soderling's career, his first 500 level victory after previously falling short in three other 500 level finals (and a grand slam final).

Robin Soderling long had a reputation as one of the best (and only) indoor, fast-court specialists on either tour, which is what made his breakout performance at the very outdoors and slow French Open last spring so baffling to me.  By winning Rotterdam, the biggest European indoor tournament in the first half of the calendar, Soderling shows that he's still can be great at his old former strength while having added a big new strength.  A win over Davydenko along the way certainly doesn't hurt his confidence, either.

Since the title (and *SPOILER!* Andy Roddick's early exit in Memphis), Soderling has risen to a career high ranking of #7.  Not bad for someone who lost in the first round of the Australian Open to the likes of Marcel Granollers.

After the jump: ATP San Jose, ATP Costa do Sauipe, WTA Paris and WTA Pattaya City.  Click away!

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