Soderling makes it to London

Robin has become the 5th place to book his place and get the chance to don the white overalls and play with the paint :)

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Robin Soderling has qualified for the 2010 Barclays ATP World Tour Finals. Soderling, who reached the semi-finals of the season finale in London last year, becomes the fifth singles player to qualify for this year’s event - to be played at The O2 21-28 November. The Swede joins a blockbuster line-up comprised of Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray.

Soderling, who fell in the quarter-finals of this week's If Stockholm Open, is guaranteed to finish among the world's top eight following today's release of draws at next week's ATP World Tour 250 tournaments in Vienna, St. Petersburg and Montpellier. 

“I’ve always dreamed about playing at the World Tour Finals. I had some really good memories from last year. Hopefully I can take that experience and do even better this time. There are only eight players and you play against the world’s best so every match you play could be like a Grand Slam final. I will have to be ready from the first match,” said Soderling.

The Swede has enjoyed the best season of his career to date, capturing the ATP World Tour 500 event in Rotterdam, as well as reaching the final at Roland Garros for a second consecutive year. He also reached the quarter-finals at Wimbledon and the US Open and currently lies at a career high No.5 in the South African Airways 2010 ATP Rankings.

Soderling’s qualification also means his self-portrait, created using paint-covered tennis balls, will be displayed as part of the ‘Art of Tennis’ exhibition at La Galleria Pall Mall in London from 8-18 November. Only the world’s top eight players who qualify to compete in the season finale will have their original works of art exhibited in London and auctioned online for charity through: barclaysatpworldtourfinals.com/ArtofTennis.
Only three singles berths remain up for grabs at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals with less than four weeks left in the regular ATP World Tour season.

In doubles, Lukas Dlouhy and Leander Paes are now assured of their place among the top eight doubles teams of the year, meaning the Czech/Indian duo join Bryan/Bryan, Nestor/Zimonjic & Melzer/Petzschner as the first four teams to qualify. Dlouhy/Paes, who captured the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title in Miami this year, will play in the season-ending event for a third consecutive year.

Courtesy: ATPWorldTour