体坛英语新闻：Home favourite Murray grabs opening win at ATP Finals

LONDON, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- British top player Andy Murray started his journey at the ATP World Tour Finals with an opening win over Sweden ace Robin Soderling here on Sunday.

The 23-year-old world No. 5 needed only 28 minutes to take the first set 6-2 before wrapped it up 6-4 in the second set.

"I think I played very smart tennis today," said Murray, who made his third straight appearance in season finale. "Even when obviously it was getting tough in the second set, a lot of long rallies, I was on the defensive quite a lot, stuck to my tactics well and managed to come through. But it was a good match."

Soderling, 26, came to London with his maiden ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title that he clinched in Paris earlier this month, but definitely didn't start well in his second appearance at the Finals in two years.

Britain's Andy Murray serves against Sweden's Robin Soderling in their singles match at the ATP World Tour Finals in London November 21, 2010.

Soderling was broken twice in the first set and conceded another serving game to Murray with a double faults in the following set.

"First set was not very good. I wasn't really there. I think second set was better. But he played better than me today," said Soderling.

But the round-robin group means Soderling could still reach the semifinals as last year he did.

"The good thing is I still have a chance," said Soderling. "I have two really tough matches coming up. Again, I have to focus on the first one. Hopefully I can play a little bit better in this one."

Soderling is going to play Roger Federer and David Ferrer in group B and the top two in each group advance into the semis.