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Llodra squares up to Robin Soderling in Rotterdam Open final

French lefthander Michael Llodra, who has had less then a week off all year, vowed to dig into his dwindling energy reserves yesterday as he bids for his second title of the season against Robin Soderling at the Rotterdam Open.

"I've only had four days off this season," said the winner of last month's Adelaide event which was followed by a run to the Australian Open doubles final.

"I'm tired and my back's a bit tight, but it won't affect me in the final," he said.

Llodra beat Ivo Karlovic 7-5, 7-6 (7/4) on Saturday to move into the title match even though the Croatian aced him 16 times.

Countryman Gilles Simon failed to make it an all-French affair as he lost to Sweden's Soderling 6-2, 6-1 in a mere 50 minutes at the Ahoy stadium in the other last four match.

The Swede is looking for his third career title -- the last he lifted was in 2006 in Milan.

Soderling, one spot below Llodra at 59 in the world, is playing in only his second tournament in six months after suffering a wrist injury last season.
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