Top-seeded Robin Soderling withdraws from Stockholm Open because of elbow injury

STOCKHOLM, Sweden - Top-seeded Robin Soderling withdrew from the Stockholm Open semifinals Saturday because of an elbow injury.

The withdrawal allowed Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus to advance to Sunday's final, where he will play Olivier Rochus. The Belgian outlasted Tomaz Bellucci of Brazil 7-6 (4), 4-6, 6-3 to reach the championship match at Royal Tennis Hall.

Soderling has been bothered by a sore right elbow since July, when he withdrew from the quarter-finals in Washington.

A trainer treated him several times during the second set in the quarter-finals Friday against Guillermo Garcia-Lopez of Spain.

"I felt so much pain when I played in Asia. I had an MRI Tuesday and they told me that I have to rest two, three weeks to get well," Soderling said.

Soderling is battling for one of the two remaining spots for the season-ending ATP World Tour Finals in London next month.

He has not decided if he'll play upcoming tournaments in Valencia and Paris.

"I haven't withdrawn from any tournaments so far," Soderling said. "I'll just wait and see and have more medical examinations."

The 10th-ranked Swede, a surprising finalist in the French Open this year, was the only seeded player left in the tournament.

"I'm sorry for Robin first of all," Baghdatis said. "It's not easy to retire, especially when you're playing at home. But obviously I'm happy to get through to the final.

"I need some points and my ranking is not so good right now. I knew it would not have been an easy match for me today. He was the favourite, playing with the home support and indoors. So I'm just happy to get through."

Baghdatis has played great all week long, not losing a set in his three matches. This is his best ATP Tour result of the year. Ranked 66th, Baghdatis has won two career titles.

He's looking forward to playing his practice partner on Sunday.

"Rochus is playing great," Baghdatis said. "He's a good friend of mine and we've warmed up together every day this week. It's nice to play a friend in the final."

Rochus, ranked 87th, also has two career titles.

"I played a good match," he said. "I stayed positive and didn't give up, that's why I won."