Sweden's Robin Soderling [ Images ] put an indifferent start to the year behind him by beating Frenchman Florent Serra 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 in the first round of the World Indoor Tournament on Monday.

Soderling, the world number eight, suffered first round exits in Chennai and at the Australian Open [ Images ] but got off the mark with a battling display in Rotterdam.

"I hadn't played for some weeks and today I also had a bad start but I fought my way back into the match," third-seed Soderling told reporters.

"I am satisfied with the win but can and have to do much better," he added.

Fifth seed Tommy Robredo [ Images ], who also experienced a first round exit in Melbourne [ Images ] last month, overcame Dutch wild card Robin Haase 7-6, 6-4.

Top seed Novak Djokovic [ Images ] faces Ukrainian Sergiy Stakhovsky on Tuesday.