Vinciguerra wins in 3 sets to set up all-Swedish 2nd-round match with compatriot Soderling

Vinciguerra sets up match with Soderling

BASTAD, Sweden — Andreas Vinciguerra set up an all-Swedish second-round match with top-seeded Robin Soderling after defeating Daniel Brands in three sets at the Swedish Open on Monday.

Vinciguerra, a wild card, won 7-6 (6), 6-7 (5), 6-4 at the clay-court tournament and will next face two-time French Open finalist Soderling, who was given a bye in the first round.

“It was tough, but I’m happy to have gone through,” Vinciguerra said. “I would have preferred a two-sets victory, though. Robin is one of the world’s very best players. I’m looking forward to that match.”

After winning the first set, Vinciguerra built a 3-0 lead in the second but the German came back strong to force a decider.

Tied at 4-4 in the third set, Vinciguerra broke before serving out for the match.

After struggling with knee injuries, Vinciguerra is now ranked No. 347, but has reached the final twice before at Bastad.

He will face a tough match against No. 5-ranked Soderling, who beat Juan Monaco in last year’s final to win the championship in front of his home crowd for the first time. He has five career titles to date.

Italy’s Potito Starace also advanced Monday after brushing aside eighth-seeded Florent Serra of France 6-2, 6-2 on a hot day in southern Sweden.

Serra had won both of their previous encounters but was no match for Starace this time, with the Italian prevailing in a little more than an hour.

In other matches, Spain’s Pere Riba beat Peter Luczak of Australia 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (6), and Italy’s Fabio Fognini defeated Sweden’s Filip Prpic 6-7 (7), 6-3, 6-4.