Top seed Soderling overpowers Ebden

The last remaining Australian has exited the Brisbane International with Perth
qualifier Matt Ebden overpowered by top seed Robin Soderling in the quarter-finals
on Friday.
Ebden fought hard but was outclassed by the Swedish world No.5 who triumphed 6-3 6-2
in 71 minutes to book a semi-final clash with Czech Radek Stepanek on Saturday.
The South African-born 23-year-old was not allowed to continue the form he showed in
upsetting eighth seed Denis Istomin on Thursday.
Ebden started solidly but Soderling quickly took his game to a higher level to break
in the sixth game of the match.
Ranked 196th in the world, the Australian faltered badly at the start of the second
set, serving two double faults to lose serve.
Ebden was also not helped by a controversial call from the chair umpire at deuce 1-4
after Soderling successfully challenged a ball wrongly called long.
He was positioned to continue the rally but the umpire argued he didn't have a shot
and awarded the point to the Swede.
After women's world No.42 Jarmila Groth also bowed out in the quarter-finals on
Thursday night, Australia remains yet to boast a player to make the final four of
the tournament, which is in its third year.
Stepanek, the 2009 champion and 2010 finalist, earlier continued his fine record on
Pat Rafter Arena by defeating seventh seed Florian Mayer 6-3 6-3.