Robin Soderling.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

ROTTERDAM, Netherlands -- Robin Soderling has won his first match of the year, beating Florent Serra 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 in the first round of the ABN Amro indoor tournament.

Top-seeded Novak Djokovic and Nikolay Davydenko play their first-round matches on Tuesday.

Third-seeded Soderling was a finalist in Rotterdam, Netherlands, two years ago when he lost to Michael Llodra, who returned this year unseeded. Soderling lost in the first round of the Australian Open.

In other matches, Florian Mayer defeated Janko Tipsarevic 6-3, 6-7 (8), 7-6 (8) and Andreas Seppi beat qualifier Stephane Bohli 6-1, 7-5.

Last year's winner, Andy Murray, is not defending his title, and 2009 runner-up Rafael Nadal pulled out with an injury sustained at last month's Australian Open.