On the courts Sunday’s pro tennis matches

Swedish Open

BASTAD, Sweden — Robin Soderling beat Juan Monaco 6-3, 7-6 (4) to win the Swedish Open for his fourth ATP Tour title and first on clay. The second-seeded Soderling became the first Swedish winner of the tournament since 2000 when his coach, Magnus Norman, won the title. “I’m so happy, I wouldn’t trade this victory for a Grand Slam,” Soderling said. This was his third ATP final on home soil. He lost both previous — on indoor hard court to Mardy Fish in the 2003 Stockholm Open and last year to David Nalbandian in the same tournament. The 12th-ranked Soderling did not drop a set in his four matches at Bastad. He broke for a 1-0 lead in the second set and had a break point for 4-1. But he let Monaco back in the match when his serve deserted him in the eighth game. Monaco broke back to 4-4 after Soderling hit a backhand wide. “He started playing well in the second set,” Soderling said. “I got nervous. I had a break point to 4-1, but the ball hit the top of the net. That was the match I thought. I got tense and he started playing better and better.”

Mercedes Cup

STUTTGART, Germany — Jeremy Chardy of France won his first career ATP Tour title, beating Victor Hanescu of Romania 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the Mercedes Cup final. After clinching the second set following a break of serve, Chardy raced to a 4-0 lead in the third. But Hanescu, who was seeded fourth, won the next three games and held two break points to even the score. Chardy saved them, held serve and then served out the match at love. “It was very difficult,” Chardy said. “I was very nervous at the start and felt the pressure in the third.” Chardy swigged from a bottle of champagne at the victory ceremony and then took a brief spin behind the wheel of a luxury car donated to the winner by the title sponsor. It was Chardy’s second career final. He finished as runner-up in Johannesburg in February.

Palermo Open

PALERMO, Sicily — Flavia Pennetta routed Sara Errani 6-1, 6-2 to win the Palermo Open in an all-Italian final. The top-seeded Pennetta did not drop a set all week on the red clay courts of the Country Time Club. It was Pennetta’s seventh career title, with six of the seven having come on clay. She finished 2008 ranked a career-high 13th and is currently 15th. Errani beat Pennetta in the semifinals here last year en route to the title.

Prague Open

PRAGUE — Sybille Bammer of Austria beat top-seeded Francesca Schiavone 7-6 (4), 6-2 to win the Prague Open. Bammer broke Schiavone twice for a 4-0 lead in the first set before the Italian rallied tied the score at 5-5. Schiavone then took a 3-1 lead in tiebreaker before Bammer seized control. The 31st-ranked Bammer then broke Schiavone twice for a quick 5-1 lead in the second before sealing the win.

Associated Press