• ATP Tour

Soderling links up with new coach

ESPN staff
December 7, 2010
Robin Soderling returns to Rafael Nadal © Getty Images
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Robin Soderling will begin the new season under the guidance of Italian trainer Claudio Pistolesi.

The world No. 5 announced that he would part company with Magnus Norman after two years, with the former world No. 2 wanting to spend more time with his family.

Pistolesi, a former coach of Monica Seles, has agreed to work with Soderling, initially on a three-month trial basis. The Italian has most recently worked with Germany's Michael Berrer.

"The experience of working with Monica Seles gave me confidence," Pistolesi is quoted in Italian tennis magazine Matchpoint. "I learned to understand players and their mechanisms.

"Robin is a very professional and intelligent player. Like all new relationships, we need a trial period, and we will work together until February to get to know each other better."

Elsewhere, Brazilian No. 1 Thomaz Bellucci has linked up with Larri Passos, former coach of Gustavo Kuerten.

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