Abu Dhabi: Sweden's Robin Soderling is hoping that it will be third time lucky if he makes it to a Grand Slam final next year and realise a dream of his.
The 26-year-old who lost two consecutive finals at Rolland Garros last year and this year said that he has put his focus on the big tournament and has also made some changes to his approach.
Speaking to reporters at the Abu Dhabi International Tennis Complex on the eve of the Mubadala World Tennis Championship, Soderling said he was looking to be more aggressive in the new season.
"We [Soderling and his coach] have worked on a lot of things and I will try to play a little bit more aggressive. I have also worked on my movement around the net and volley and also on my slice. My defending game is also one of the few things I have been really working on and hopefully I will do better this year," he said.
Commenting on his dream of a Grand Slam title, Soderling said, "It is in the big tournaments I have put my focus. Of course I lost two Grand Slam finals which is not a great feeling."
Only dream
"But again I reached the final and I showed that I really can be there and compete in the big tournaments. I have tried to improve my game even more in certain aspects so hopefully I can have one more chance this year," he said looking for a third chance.
"[The] Dream is of course to win one. It's always been my dream since I played tennis. They say third time is the chance so hopefully I can do it this time [in 2011]," the Swede said.
He however conceded that a tough, competitive year lies ahead. "Yes it's going to be extremely tough because I think there are so many good players out there, not only like Roger [Federer] and Rafa [Nadal], I think there are 10 or 15 guys who can compete in the big tournaments. So it's going to be tough." "I'm very focused and I tried to improve and become a better player and worked hard and hopefully if I can do well I stand a chance," he said.
